Spicy Chipotle Pasta (vegetarian, gluten-free option)

Cheesecake Factory's Spicy Chipotle Pasta with bell peppers, asparagus, peas tossed in a parmesan cream sauce. This dish is spicy and smoky.

I'm one of those food snobs who doesn't enjoy dining at franchises, but there are a few exceptions. The Cheesecake Factory is one of them, especially with its extensive menu and incredible cheesecakes.

One of my favorite dishes to order at CCF is the Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta, it truly is spicy! I'm of Indian origin and if I'm saying that, believe it. Today I'm sharing a vegetarian version of this pasta.

What is Spicy Chipotle Pasta?

Inspired by The Cheesecake Factory's Spicy Chipotle Chicken Pasta, my version is vegetarian and prepared with bell peppers, onions, asparagus, peas, and chipotle in a cream-based sauce. Of course, my version is healthier than the real thing because I used milk instead of cream. 

Ingredients for Cheesecake Factory Spicy Chipotle Pasta:

Pasta: I like using whole wheat penne for this dish. Alternatively, fusilli, farfalle, or rigatoni would work well too.

Canned Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce: This is spicy stuff - I used 3 chipotle peppers, for less spice, you may use 2.

Whole Milk: We need milk to make the sauce.

Veggies: Asparagus, Peas, Red & Yellow Bell Peppers, and Onion.

Garlic: I'm always generous with garlic - it adds so much flavor.

Butter

Olive Oil

Honey: You'll need honey to add a touch of sweetness, this will help balance out the flavors.

Spices: Chipotle Powder and Salt.

Parmesan Cheese

Reserved Pasta Water: This will help create a luscious creamy sauce, so definitely reserve some pasta water. 

Spicy Chipotle Pasta is:

Spicy
Smoky
Flavorful
Vegetarian
Comforting
Satisfying
Gluten-Free option (see below)
Vegan option (see below)

How to make Spicy Chipotle Pasta Cheesecake Factory recipe step by step?

Prep

Boil water. Chop veggies. Steam asparagus.

1. Boil a pot of water. You will be using this to steam the asparagus first and then cook the pasta.
2. In the meantime, chop all your veggies - garlic, onions, red & yellow bell peppers. Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces.
3. Once water boils, add asparagus. Steam for 3 minutes.
4. Add asparagus to ice-cold water. This will stop the cooking process.

Make the sauce

1. Add 3 chipotle peppers and salt to milk. 
2. Blend. This is what you should have. Set aside.

Cook Spicy Chipotle Pasta

1. Heat up a dutch castiron, once hot, add oil followed by chopped garlic. Cook for a minute.
2. Add onions and bell peppers. Season with salt. Saute for 6 minutes until softened and golden.
3. In the meantime, add whole wheat penne to the boiling hot water from earlier. Follow the instructions on the package and cook the pasta.

4. Once onions and bell peppers soften, add 2 tablespoon of butter. 
5. Once melted, add 2 tablespoon Desi atta (or all-purpose flour) and cook for a minute. This will help thicken up the sauce.
6. Very slowly add the chipotle sauce a little at a time to avoid curdling. 
7. Using a wooden spoon, mix the veggies with the sauce. Continue doing this until all the sauce has been added. Cook the sauce for 3 minutes until hot.

.

8. Add honey and dry chipotle powder.
9. Add all the penne. Mix well. Make sure you save the reserved pasta water for later.
10. Now add frozen peas (rinsed under warm water) and asparagus. Mix.
11. Add grated parmesan cheese and reserved pasta water at this time.

12. Mix well. Check for salt.

Garnish

1. Add more freshly grated parmesan cheese. Garnish with fresh cilantro/parsley and tortilla strips.

Tips on making Spicy Chipotle Pasta:

• Steam your asparagus for 3 minutes and immediately add it to ice-cold water. This process will shock the asparagus and stop the cooking process so the asparagus will remain bright green.
• Prepare your Chipotle Sauce in a blender or Nutri Bullet.
• Chop your veggies.
• Saute the veggies and make a roux to help thicken the sauce. We are using milk in this recipe, NOT heavy cream.
• When adding Chipotle Sauce to the veggies, make sure you pour the sauce slowly - a little at a time to prevent curdling.
• Add pasta, asparagus, and peas. Toss and garnish!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I make this recipe vegan and gluten-free?

Yes and yes!

For vegan, simply replace the milk with unsweetened cashew milk and butter with vegan butter.
For gluten-free, replace the pasta and tortilla strips with gluten-free versions.

2. Can I make Spicy Chipotle Pasta less spicy?

Yes! This dish is spicy! I used 3 chipotle peppers, feel free to use just 2 peppers or just add in some adobo sauce from a can if you can't handle chipotle peppers. Additionally, you can skip the chipotle powder or just add paprika instead for color.

More Pasta Recipes!

• Sun-dried Tomato and Spinach Pasta
• Black Bean Enchilada Pasta
• Tikka Masala Pasta
• Indian Vegetarian Meatless Meatball with Paneer
• Truffle Mac and Cheese

Spicy Chipotle Pasta

Vegetarian, Gluten-free option, Vegan option

Cheesecake Factory's Spicy Chipotle Pasta with bell peppers, asparagus, peas tossed in a parmesan cream sauce. This dish is spicy and smoky.

4.67 from 3 votes

Author: Nisha

Pin Recipe Print Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian Inspired, Mexican-Inspired

Servings 6 servings

Equipment

Le Creuset 3.5 qt

Spider Strainer

Lucini Olive Oil

NutriBullet

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

for asparagus and pasta

• ▢ pot of boiling water
• ▢ 2 cups asparagus, 1-inch slices
• ▢ 1 pound whole wheat penne pasta

for chipotle sauce

• ▢ 3 cups whole milk
• ▢ 3 chipotle peppers
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt

for chipotle pasta

• ▢ 1 tablespoon oil
• ▢ 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• ▢ 1 medium onion, chopped
• ▢ ½ red bell pepper, chopped
• ▢ ½ yellow bell pepper, chopped
• ▢ 2 cups asparagus, steamed
• ▢ 2 tablespoon desi atta, or all-purpose flour
• ▢ 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
• ▢ add chipotle sauce
• ▢ ½ tablespoon pure honey
• ▢ 2 teaspoon chipotle powder
• ▢ 1 pound pasta, cooked
• ▢ 2 cups asparagus, steamed
• ▢ ½ cup frozen peas, run underwater
• ▢ ½ - ¾ cup reserved pasta water
• ▢ ½ cup parmesan cheese

for garnish

• ▢ few cilantro/parsley, chopped
• ▢ tortilla strips

Instructions

 

Boil water. Chop veggies. Steam asparagus.

• Boil a pot of water. You will be using this to steam the asparagus first and then cook the pasta.
• In the meantime, chop all your veggies - garlic, onions, red & yellow bell peppers. Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces.
• Once water boils, add asparagus. Steam for 3 minutes.
• Add asparagus to ice-cold water. This will stop the cooking process.

Make the sauce

• Add 3 chipotle peppers and salt to milk.
• Blend. This is what you should have. Set aside.

Cook Spicy Chipotle Pasta

• Heat up a dutch castiron, once hot, add oil followed by chopped garlic. Cook for a minute.
• Add onions and bell peppers. Season with salt. Saute for 6 minutes until softened and golden.
• In the meantime, add whole wheat penne to the boiling hot water from earlier. Follow the instructions on the package and cook the pasta.
• Once onions and bell peppers soften, add 2 tablespoon of butter.
• Once melted, add 2 tablespoon Desi atta (or all-purpose flour) and cook for a minute. This will help thicken up the sauce.
• Very slowly add the chipotle sauce a little at a time to avoid curdling.
• Using a wooden spoon, mix the veggies with the sauce. Continue doing this until all the sauce has been added. Cook the sauce for 3 minutes until hot.
• .
• Add honey and dry chipotle powder.
• Add all the penne. Mix well. Make sure you save the reserved pasta water for later.
• Now add frozen peas (rinsed under warm water) and asparagus. Mix.
• Add grated parmesan cheese and reserved pasta water at this time.
• Mix well. Check for salt.

Garnish

• Add more freshly grated parmesan cheese. Garnish with fresh cilantro/parsley and tortilla strips.

Notes

for gluten-free: replace pasta with gluten-free pasta. Also, use gluten-free tortilla strips.

for vegan option: replace milk with unsweetened cashew milk and butter with vegan butter.

Nutrition

Calories: 520kcalCarbohydrates: 75gProtein: 22gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 795mgPotassium: 832mgFiber: 12gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 2341IUVitamin C: 50mgCalcium: 296mgIron: 4mg

Keyword Asparagus, Bell Peppers, Chipotle, Pasta, Peas

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Pin & Enjoy!