Cheesecake Factory Spicy Chipotle Pasta

Spicy chipotle pasta is loaded with flavors , and a super comforting meal. Penne pasta is cooked in a homemade, rich and creamy red sauce. Perfect cheesecake factory style made right in your kitchen in less than 25 minutes ( cooking time is only 15 minutes). Recipe includes detailed instructions with stepwise pictures and tips.

Its our family’s favorite dish on the restaurants menu. I’ve made the vegetarian version of the recipe. To make it chicken chipotle, cut chicken into cubes , add salt – pepper seasoning , grill or cook the chicken separately, and toss it into the pasta at the end. The specialty of this paste is the homemade creamy and rich red sauce, which is made of sriracha, honey, garlic, cream and spices, which adds an excellent flavor, and taste to the pasta.

This is great a lunch box recipe. I always make some extra and pack it for AJ’s and hubby’s lunch box. I’ve tried many combinations with various ingredients, different quantities and ended up with this recipe. This chipotle pasta is always on my weekly routine meal, so addictive and delicious. Try this, and I’m sure this will become your family favorite’s too.

Cooking pasta to Al Dente consistency is very important step

Pasta is one of the favorite food in many countries, cooking it right is the most important part. Al Dente Pasta means pasta is cooked to be firm to the bite ( tender but firm). The term identifies the ideal consistency for pasta and involves a brief cooking time. Texture of the pasta is responsible for the overall taste of any pasta dish. There is health benefits of eating pasta Al Dente. Check the link below for detailed instructions, different pasta cooking time, tips, stepwise pictures , and different recipes using cooked pasta.

• How To Cook Al Dente Pasta

Serving suggestions

You can serve this pasta as shown in this post picture, simple cook pasta with sauce and add some cheese and serve. The second way is to serve it with grilled chicken, cooked / grilled asparagus, and fried tortilla strips to garnish, but this is completely optional.

Pasta is also served with some breads / garlic bread , salad , soup as a side.

Storing and reheating instructions

Refrigerate any left over pasta in a clean, airtight container, for up to 4 to 5 days. To reheat – remove pasta from fridge, drizzle some olive oil, place the bowl in the microwave, covered with a lid , and microwave for one to two minute or until warm (do not over heat it, pasta will become dry).

Why do we reserve cooked pasta water ?

After the pasta is cooked, we reserve the cooked pasta water, before draining it in this recipe. Cooked pasta water gives a nice creamy texture and a very good flavor to the pasta . You can substitute this cooked pasta water instead of using regular water in any pasta sauce recipe.

Other pasta recipes, I’ve listed few below.

• Easy Instant Pot Stuffed Shells With Spinach And Cheese
• Instant Pot Spaghetti And Soy Protein Meatballs

Italian Cuisine recipe, Listed few below.

• Easy Tiramisu Recipe – No Bake Dessert
• Creamy Buffalo Chicken Pizza Instant Pot
• Cream Of Pistachio Nut | Spread
• French Macarons With Mango Buttercream
• Easy Pizza Dough Recipe Instant Pot
• No Churn – Eggless Pistachio Gelato

Step by step pictures of how to make the chipotle pasta

Ingredients required – penne pasta , minced garlic cloves , cooked / boiled peas , heavy cream, tomato paste,  shredded Parmesan cheese , olive oil, pepper powder , salt , lemon juice , honey and sriracha sauce, and keep it ready.

Cooking the pasta

For 4 cups of pasta – Take a wide pot pan, add 12 cups of water, cover the pot with the lid and bring the water to boil. Once it starts to boil add 4 cups of penne pasta , 4 tsp of salt and 1 tablespoon of oil and return the water to boil ( do not cover the pot with the lid ). Set timer to exact 12 minutes and switch of the stove. Reserve 1 and 1/2 cups of cooked pasta water and set aside. Then Place a strainer or colander in the kitchen sink , pour the cooked pasta into the strainer and drain the water. Open the cold running tap water and rinse the strained pasta in the cold water (this helps the pasta from cooking further and to stay Al Dente, which means pasta is cooked to be firm to the bite).

How To Prepare the Sauce?

In a bowl, add tomato paste , lemon juice,  sriracha sauce , salt and  pepper powder and mix altogether to a smooth paste.

Final Step

Take a pan , add olive oil and heat in medium-low flame. Once hot add minced garlic cloves and sauté for a minute or until garlic turns slightly golden and fragrant. Now add prepared sauce and sauté .

Add 1 and 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water, mix well and bring it to a boil in medium-low flame only .

Now add  shredded parmesan cheese , heavy cream and honey and stir well for few seconds .

Finally add cooked pasta and cooked peas to the sauce.

Mix altogether, switch of the flame and remove from stove immediately . Transfer the pasta to the serving bowl to prevent the sauce from getting thicker .