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Mexican Chicken Pasta

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Mexican Chicken Pasta is an easy one pot meal that your whole family will love! It comes together quickly, tastes delicious, and is perfect for any busy weeknight meal!

 

Main image for Mexican Chicken Pasta

 

Ahh! Tender chicken breast, black beans, corn, and tomatoes. Who doesn’t love those?

Especially when you wrap them up in a creamy, cheesy sauce! 

It’s a meal full of Mexican-inspired flavors in every bite! You’ll definitely want to add it to your weekly dinner rotation!

Chicken Mexican pasta is such an easy pasta recipe! Nothing special around here! Though it’s quite yummy anyway!

And since it’s a one-pot meal? Cleanup is a breeze! It’s perfect for those busy weeknights.

Plus it’s super customizable! You can totally throw in different veggies or proteins to suit your taste.

This Mexican chicken pasta recipe is a wonderful balance of creaminess and spice. Which means the entire family can enjoy it! Even the littles!

And… it’s not just delicious on the day it’s made! It also makes a great next day lunch option!

 

vegetable oil, chicken and onions in skillet ready to be cooked

 

What Ingredients are in Mexican Chicken Pasta?

This creamy pasta is a yummy combo of everyday ingredients! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Vegetable Oil: You could also use olive oil or avocado oil.
  • Chicken Breast: You could also swap with chicken thighs if desired.
  • Yellow Onion: My favorite flavor, but again, go ahead and use a different onion if you want.
  • Black Beans: A staple in Mexican cooking! Make sure to drain and rinse.
  • Diced Tomatoes: Don’t drain these. You need the juice.
  • Corn: Again, don’t drain these. There’s method to the madness I promise!
  • Salsa: Any flavor you prefer! Go spicier or more mild. Up to you.
  • Taco Seasoning: Homemade or store-bought. Doesn’t matter.
  • Farfalle Pasta: Also known as bow tie pasta.
  • Chicken Broth: Gives you much better flavor than just water.
  • Colby-Jack Cheese: Shredded! So either buy it shredded or shred it yourself.
  • Sour Cream: Adds a smooth, creamy finish.

Pro Tips:

  • For the chicken breast, pat it dry before seasoning.
  • Gradually add cheese to the sauce to prevent clumping so you get a smooth texture.
  • If you’re looking to cut down on fat content, you can swap out sour cream for Greek yogurt.
  • Fresh cilantro is super pretty sprinkled on top before serving.

 

black beans, tomatoes, corn, salsa and taco seasoning added to chicken mixture.

 

How to Make Mexican Chicken Pasta

This easy dinner has everything you love about Mexican food and is such a delicious dish!

  1. Heat oil in a large skillet, then add chicken and onion.
  2. Toss in black beans, tomatoes, corn, salsa, and taco seasoning.
  3. Add the pasta and chicken broth, then bring the mixture to a boil. Simmer pasta until tender.
  4. Mix in most of the cheese until it’s melted and gooey.
  5. Stir in the sour cream.
  6. Dish it out hot and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Pro Tips:

  • Cook pasta right in the sauce. Way better flavor!
  • Keep on medium heat to prevent the bottom from burning.
  • If the sauce seems too thick, add a small amount of chicken stock or water to adjust.
  • For an extra kick, add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. Be careful! They can be intense!

 

dry pasta and chicken broth added to chicken mixture

 

Can You Make Mexican Chicken Pasta Ahead of Time?

Absolutely this Mexican-inspired pasta dish can be made ahead of time! 

It’s a great option for meal prep!

Or when you have absolutely no prep time and need a quick dinner solution!

Just reheat it gently, and you’re good to go!

I prefer to reheat it on the stovetop but you could also heat it up in the microwave.

If you use the microwave, just go slow and stir often. 

That’ll keep it from exploding all over the microwave!

 

Cheese added to mexican pasta mixture.

 

How to Store Leftover Mexican Chicken Pasta

To store leftover cooked pasta fist let it cool to room temperature.

Then transfer it into an airtight container. 

It can be kept in the fridge for about 3-4 days.

I like to portion it so that it’s ready to eat for a couple of days! 

That way you can just grab it on the way to work or school and have it ready to go.

Busy mornings? With kids? No time to prepare? Been there! Solution here! 

 

sour cream added to chicken mixture.

 

Can You Freeze Mexican Chicken Pasta?

Yes, you can freeze this easy chicken pasta recipe.

Place it in a freezer-safe container and it can be stored for up to three months! 

To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight and then warm it up in a microwave or on the stovetop.

Don’t forget to write the name of the recipe and when you put it in the freezer on your container.

Maybe even write when it expires by. That way you’ll know when you need to use it up.

 

top view looking down at mexican pasta with chicken in skillet

 

Can You Use Other Vegetables in Mexican Chicken Pasta?

You can absolutely use other vegetables in this chicken taco pasta recipe! 

Feel free to add bell peppers, green chilies, or even fresh tomatoes to this dish. 

This recipe is super customizable and welcomes all your favorite veggies!

Mushrooms or green onions would be other great options!

 

side view of skillet full of cooked pasta with salsa

 

What to Serve with Mexican Chicken Pasta

When it comes to pairing side dishes with this cheesy chicken pasta, you have a bunch of options. 

Here are some great ones you should try (we love them over here!):

 

plate full of taco pasta on a plate

 

Is Mexican Chicken Pasta Healthy?

This one pot pasta can be part of a balanced diet. And it should be by the way… SO GOOD!

It has protein from the chicken, fiber from the beans and corn, and other essential nutrients too! 

Of course, it’s also rich in cheese and sour cream. Which by the way is what makes it so good! 

But alas I must tell you, moderation is key. That’s probably key to everything actually.

Anyway if you want to make some swaps you could try using whole wheat pasta, low-fat cheese, and sour cream alternatives.

I haven’t made those changes myself and they may require slightly different cooking times.

Especially for the whole wheat pasta. But if you make the swaps, please let everyone know in the comment section how they turn out!

 

fork holding up a portion of mexican chicken pasta

 

Can Dogs Eat Mexican Chicken Pasta?

Sorry but no, dogs definitely shouldn’t eat this easy recipe.

While cooked chicken and some of the vegetables are safe for dogs, onions and garlic are actually toxic to them. 

While onions and garlic are really great for humans, they could really be bad for dogs. Especially the little ones!

Plus the spices and high fat content can upset their stomachs. So it’s really best if they don’t eat any of it.

This delicious easy-to-make Mexican Chicken Pasta is sure to become a family favorite! 

Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner or a delicious way to spice up your pasta night, you’re going to love this!

 

 

Yield: 6 Servings

Mexican Chicken Pasta

plate full of taco pasta on a plate

Savor the creamy, spicy twist of Mexican Chicken Pasta, an easy and delicious meal ideal for busy nights and leftover lunches!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Instructions

  1. In a large deep skillet or dutch oven, add oil & chicken and onions. Cook until chicken is cooked through and onion is soft and translucent.
  2. Add black beans, tomatoes with juice, corn, salsa & taco seasoning. Mix well.
  3. Add pasta and chicken broth. Mix well and bring to a boil.
  4. Once at a boil, cover, lower to simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
  5. After 15 minutes, the pasta should be cooked and most of the liquid absorbed.
  6. Add 1 cup cheese & mix well.
  7. Add sour cream & mix well.
  8. Serve immediately and top with remaining cheese.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 435Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 102mgSodium: 800mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 5gSugar: 5gProtein: 37g
Originally Posted: February 8, 2016

Photos & Text Updated: January 10, 2024

 

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Vicki

Sunday 4th of February 2024

Family loved this! I doubled the pasta and topped it with fresh cilantro. Super good and easy. Made a ton and probably would freeze well if we don’t finish the leftovers. Thank you for sharing this!

Janelle

Thursday 29th of February 2024

I love the idea of fresh cilanthttps://numstheword.com/wp-admin/import.phpro Vicki! I'm going to try that next time!

Allyson

Wednesday 17th of January 2024

This was absolutely the perfect dinner! Thank you so much for this recipe!

Janelle

Thursday 29th of February 2024

So glad your family liked it Allyson.

Erin | Dinners, Dishes and Dessert

Wednesday 17th of January 2024

Just perfect! Adding on our weeknight dinner rotation!

Janelle

Thursday 29th of February 2024

So glad it was a hit with your family Erin!

Sandra | A Dash of Sanity

Monday 15th of January 2024

This is one of my family's favorite meal to make! So delicious!

Janelle

Thursday 29th of February 2024

It's pretty addicting Sandra, I agree!

Catalina

Friday 12th of January 2024

I made this Mexican chicken pasta, and it was a hit with my family! The bold flavors and the creaminess make it a stand-out dish!

Janelle

Thursday 29th of February 2024

Thanks for the kind comment Catalina!

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