Chicken Enchilada Pasta is a flavorful combination of a loaded chicken enchilada and tender pasta all in one pan cooked under 30 minutes! This makes for a delicious family meal during the week!
Chicken Enchilada Pasta
Well spring was coming here for us in Utah. But now we are getting dumped with snow today. Not sure how I feel about it since we have been enjoying the warm weather here. But being a Utah native, I am used to the ups and downs of spring here. But I am hoping for some sunny days ahead!
I love a great pasta dish! And this is such a good meal in one that gets some rave reviews! The flavor is fantastic and reminds me of an enchilada while eating it. I loved the shredded chicken inside that made this meal complete. It has wonderful spices and flavor to it. I especially loved being able to top this with all of my favorite things! Fresh avocado, red pepper, and a little sour cream. You can customize this enchilada pasta just the way you like it!
How Do You Make Chicken Enchilada Pasta?
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and cook the onion until tender. Add the garlic and red pepper and cook a few minutes more.
- Add the shredded chicken, green chilis, cumin, chili powder, salt and enchilada sauce until heated through. Add the pasta to the sauce. Stir in cheese until melted and sour cream right before serving. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
How Do You Cook the Chicken?
Salt and pepper both sides of your chicken breasts and heat your skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, lightly grease with cooking spray or a drizzle of oil. Place chicken breasts in the pan and cook until the first side is nicely browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip chicken breasts and brown second side, 2 to 3 minutes.
What Temperature Do You Cook the Chicken To?
The safe internal temperature for cooked chicken is 165° Fahrenheit (75° Celsius). A meat or instant-read thermometer is your best bet for determining the temperature of your chicken, and if you’re cooking a whole bird, it should be inserted into the thickest part of the thigh but not touching bone.
How Do You Shred the Chicken?
After the chicken is cooled for a few minutes I like to use two forks and pull the chicken apart until it is a shred-like look. If you are wanting to speed the process, using a hand mixer or blender does work; however you will want to make sure you don’t over shred the meat.
What Kind of Pasta is Best?
I like to use Penne pasta for this recipe. You are welcome to try other pastas that are thick and soak up the sauce for best results. Farfalle or shells are also a great substitution for this recipe.
Here are Some Toppings to Choose from:
- Avocado
- Cilantro
- Green Onions
- Lettuce
- Olives
- Tomatoes
- Shredded Cheese
- Salsa
- Sour Cream
Are You Looking For More Enchilada Recipes? Here are some!
Spicy Paprika & Lime Chicken Tenderloins
These Spicy Paprika and Lime Grilled Chicken Tenderloins are a great addition to your BBQ repertoire. Take your taste buds to the Caribbean, Mexico or Spain on a little holiday! Can be cooked outdoors or on a stove. Paleo, Whole30, Keto, gluten-free.
Paprika & Lime Grilled Chicken Tenderloins
Whether you’re heating up the BBQ on a warm summer’s day or you need to give your skillet a bit of a workout, this is a fabulous chicken recipe that I know you will love.
My paprika lime chicken tenderloins are tender and juicy. The spices and citrus used in the marinade will take your taste buds on a little holiday to the Caribbean, Mexico or Spain – your pick!
I used chicken tenderloins because I find the meat more tender than the rest of the chicken breast and it’s easier to work with than the chicken thighs. You can use any chicken meat you like, just adjust the cooking time depending on the size of the pieces. This marinade will also work well with turkey, pork, quail, prawns and even beef.
What Are Chicken Tenderloins?
Still confused about what chicken tenderloins are? They are short, thin cuts taken from beneath the breast of the bird. You might find that some grocers will sell thinner slices of breast meat and call it chicken tenderloins or tender. They tend to be softer than chicken breast when cooked BUT should not be overcooked, they don’t need as long as the chicken breast.
Nutritionally speaking, they are the same as chicken breast meat – high in protein, minerals, low in calories and fat.
Make-Ahead Tip For Paprika Lime Chicken
The chicken tenderloins can be marinated ahead of time for an even more robust flavour; keep uncooked in the fridge for maximum of 3 days and freeze for up to 2 months and simply defrost overnight in the fridge before you want to use it.
More Delicious Chicken Recipes:
Description
Grilled paprika and lime grilled chicken tenderloins are great with any side dish and can be used in salads, tacos, and wraps. Can be cooked outdoors or on a stove.
- Mix the marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Rinse the chicken and cut larger pieces in half.
- Using your hands, rub the chicken with the marinade. Leave in the bowl, wrap with cling wrap and set aside in the fridge for at least one hour before grilling.
- If using a grill plate or a skillet on your stove, heat one teaspoon of coconut oil until sizzling hot. Fry the chicken pieces for 4 minutes on each side and then remove to a plate to rest. Make sure not to overcrowd the frying pan or you will end up with too much meat juice and stewed rather than grilled chicken.
- If using a BBQ, heat the plate to sizzling hot and either spray with olive oil or brush with coconut oil. Place chicken pieces on the plate with a little space in between and cook for 4 minutes on each side on medium/high heat with the lid on.
- Remove cooked chicken to a serving plate and drizzle with lime juice before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2-3 tenderloins
- Calories: 331
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 783.6 mg
- Fat: 16.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 4.4 g
- Fiber: 1.3 g
- Protein: 41.3 g
- Cholesterol: 131.4 mg
Keywords: Tenderloins, Chicken, Paprika, Lime, BBQ, Grilling, Low-Carb, Paleo, Whole30
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Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
- Calories N/A
- Total Fat N/A
- Saturated Fat N/A
- Cholesterol N/A
- Sodium N/A
- Total Carbohydrates N/A
- Protein N/A
Hi, I'm Alex!
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