If chicken breasts, crushed tomatoes and pasta are among the weekly staples in your home, then this Mexican style twist on spaghetti might be a great option to add the weekday menu rotation!
Succulent, diced chicken breast pieces simmer away in a savory sauce with just a hint of spiciness from chopped jalapeño peppers, before joining forces with spaghetti and cotija cheese for a simple, satisfying dinner that comes together in no time.
Ingredients
One of the best parts about this Mexican-inspired, spicy spaghetti is that many of the ingredients are common household staples! You’ll need:
- Pasta. I use spaghetti here, but see my suggestions below for variations.
- Olive oil
- Chicken breasts. For this version, I use chicken breasts, but many other proteins would work well here! See below.
- Fresh oregano. The fresh version of this herb has an aromatic, potent flavor. One teaspoon of dried oregano may be used as a substitute for one tablespoon of fresh oregano.
- Onion
- Garlic
- Jalapeño peppers. These are the keys to the spicy kick! If you prefer a milder sauce, you can use a can of diced green chiles in place of fresh jalapeño peppers or simply remove the seeds and ribs from your jalapeño pepper. (That’s where the heat lives. Use caution and make sure to wash your hands after cutting pepper or use gloves if your skin is sensitive.)
- White wine. Chicken broth may be substituted if preferred.
- Crushed plum tomatoes
- Water
- Sea salt
- Cotija cheese. This salty, crumbly Mexican cow’s milk cheese is perfect for adding over pasta, tacos, and other Mexican dishes. If you can’t find cotija cheese, you can use feta cheese, farmer’s cheese, or even grated Parmesan or Romano cheese.
Can I use another type of pasta?
Sure! Any pasta shape would work well here, so feel free to use your favorite. We almost always have spaghetti in our pantry, but penne, fusilli, and even good ol’ elbow macaroni is just fine, too.
Alternatively, you can cater to food allergies and special diets by swapping out traditional semolina pasta with other nutritious and allergy-friendly options such as:
- Brown Rice Pasta
- Quinoa-based Pasta
- Lentil or Chickpea Pasta
- Zucchini Noodles
- Egg Noodles
- Hearts of Palm Noodles
Many of these pasta types are gluten free, low carb, high protein and generally allergen-friendly; don’t be afraid to experiment with your favorite types of pasta and noodles!
What other proteins can I use?
While chicken breasts are probably one of the most commonly purchased meats for many households, chicken thighs would also work in this spicy spaghetti recipe!
“Spice” things up in other ways by trying out this recipe with the following proteins as a chicken substitute:
- Ground beef or ground turkey
- Chicken sausage
- Pork Sausage
- Shrimp
- Tofu or vegan chicken
- Sliced mushrooms
- Rotisserie chicken
For all but the rotisserie chicken: After lightly sautéing the onion, garlic, oregano and jalapeño peppers, add about 1 pound of desired protein or mushrooms and brown until almost cooked through, then add remaining sauce ingredients and simmer until fully cooked and/or tender.
For rotisserie chicken, dice the cooked chicken and toss it in to simmer and heat through with the sauce.
More Easy Pasta Dishes
Round out the rest of your weekday meals with these other easy pasta dishes that are perfect for busy days:
- Avocado Pasta
- Sausage & Broccoli Rabe Orecchiette Pasta
- Creamy Mushroom & Chicken Sausage Florentine Pasta
Spaghetti with Chicken and Spicy Tomato Sauce
