FlamingFoodies recipe
Chipotle Cream Spaghetti with Chorizo and Poblanos
Silky pasta tossed in a smoky chipotle-spiked cream sauce with crispy chorizo and charred poblano strips
Spaghetti gets the Mexican treatment with a velvety chipotle cream sauce, crispy chorizo crumbles, and strips of charred poblano peppers. The heat comes from chipotle peppers in adobo, delivering that distinctive smoky warmth without overwhelming the creamy base.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 1 poundspaghetti
- 2 tablespoonskosher salt, for pasta water
Chipotle Cream Sauce
- 3 wholechipotle peppers in adobo, plus 2 tablespoons sauce
- 1 cupheavy cream
- 1/2 cupwhole milk
- 3 clovesgarlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoonground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoonkosher salt
Toppings
- 6 ouncesMexican chorizo, casings removed
- 2 mediumpoblano peppers
- 1/2 cupqueso fresco, crumbled
- 1/4 cupfresh cilantro leaves
- 2 tablespoonslime juice, from 1 lime
Method
1. Char the Poblanos Hold each poblano with tongs directly over a gas flame, turning frequently until the skin is blistered and blackened all over. Drop into a bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let steam for 10 minutes—this makes the charred skin slip right off—then peel and slice into thin strips.
Watch for: The skin should be mostly black and blistered
Tip: No gas stove? Your broiler works just as well—place poblanos on a baking sheet about 4 inches from the heat
2. Crisp the Chorizo Break the chorizo into bite-sized pieces in a large skillet over medium heat. Let it sit undisturbed for the first few minutes to get a good sear, then break it up smaller and keep cooking until it's deeply browned and crispy around the edges. Use a slotted spoon to transfer it to a plate, but leave all that gorgeous rendered fat in the pan—that's flavor gold.
Watch for: The chorizo should be dark red-brown and sizzling steadily
3. Build the Chipotle Cream Pour the blended chipotle mixture into the chorizo fat (listen to that sizzle!) and bring it to a gentle simmer. Let it bubble away for 3-4 minutes, stirring now and then, until it's thick enough to coat a spoon. Add the drained pasta along with a splash of pasta water and toss everything together until each strand is silky and coated.
Watch for: The sauce should cling to the pasta without pooling in the bottom of the pan
Tip: Start with just a little pasta water—you can always add more, but you can't take it back
4. Finish and Serve Take the pan off the heat and fold in half the poblano strips and half the crispy chorizo. Divide among warm bowls and top with the remaining poblanos, chorizo, crumbled queso fresco, and fresh cilantro. Give each serving a generous squeeze of lime juice—it brightens everything up beautifully.
Watch for: The cheese should soften slightly from the heat of the pasta
Equipment
- Large skillet or sauté pan
- Large pot for pasta
- Blender
- Tongs
Make ahead
- You can char and peel those poblanos up to 2 days ahead. Just store them covered in the fridge and they'll be ready when you are.
Storage
- Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. The sauce might look a little separated when cold, but it comes right back together when you reheat it.
Reheat
- Warm it gently in a skillet with a splash of milk or cream, tossing constantly until it's heated through and creamy again.
Top tips
- Always save some pasta water—its starch is what helps that cream sauce cling to every strand
- Don't skip charring the poblanos; those blackened bits add a smoky depth you can't get any other way
- Blend that chipotle mixture until it's completely smooth—nobody wants chunks of pepper skin in their creamy sauce
Substitutions
- Half-and-half instead of heavy cream makes a lighter sauce that's still plenty rich
- If poblanos are too spicy for your family, regular bell peppers work fine (though you'll miss some of that earthy flavor)
- Cotija cheese crumbles just as nicely as queso fresco and has a bit more tang
Serve with
- Warm corn tortillas on the side turn this into a truly cross-cultural feast
- A simple salad of butter lettuce with lime vinaigrette cuts through all that richness perfectly
- Pour a cold Mexican beer or a crisp white wine—both work beautifully with the smoky heat
Find another recipe
Open archive →Chipotle Cream Spaghetti with Chorizo and Poblanos
Silky pasta tossed in a smoky chipotle-spiked cream sauce with crispy chorizo and charred poblano strips
Prep
15 min
Cook
20 min
Active
25 min
Total
35 min
Yield
4 servings
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Peppers in this recipe
Recipe notes
Before you cook
This is what happens when your favorite Italian comfort meets Mexican soul food—and honestly, it's a match that feels like it was always meant to be. The chipotle peppers bring their signature smoky warmth (the kind that builds gently, not the kind that makes you reach for milk), while chunks of golden chorizo add richness and those charred poblanos contribute their sweet, earthy depth. It's fusion cooking at its most logical: creamy enough to hug every strand of spaghetti, with just enough heat to keep everyone coming back for another bite.
Total time
35 min
Prep: 15 min. Cook: 20 min.
Yield
4 servings
The ingredient quantities below are for this yield.
Method
How to cook it
Use the step navigator to move around, or stay in cook mode and work top to bottom.
- 1
Step 1 of 4
Char the Poblanos
Hold each poblano with tongs directly over a gas flame, turning frequently until the skin is blistered and blackened all over. Drop into a bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let steam for 10 minutes—this makes the charred skin slip right off—then peel and slice into thin strips.
- 2
Step 2 of 4
Crisp the Chorizo
Break the chorizo into bite-sized pieces in a large skillet over medium heat. Let it sit undisturbed for the first few minutes to get a good sear, then break it up smaller and keep cooking until it's deeply browned and crispy around the edges. Use a slotted spoon to transfer it to a plate, but leave all that gorgeous rendered fat in the pan—that's flavor gold.
- 3
Step 3 of 4
Build the Chipotle Cream
Pour the blended chipotle mixture into the chorizo fat (listen to that sizzle!) and bring it to a gentle simmer. Let it bubble away for 3-4 minutes, stirring now and then, until it's thick enough to coat a spoon. Add the drained pasta along with a splash of pasta water and toss everything together until each strand is silky and coated.
- 4
Step 4 of 4
Finish and Serve
Take the pan off the heat and fold in half the poblano strips and half the crispy chorizo. Divide among warm bowls and top with the remaining poblanos, chorizo, crumbled queso fresco, and fresh cilantro. Give each serving a generous squeeze of lime juice—it brightens everything up beautifully.
Troubleshooting
Tips that matter
- Always save some pasta water—its starch is what helps that cream sauce cling to every strand
- Don't skip charring the poblanos; those blackened bits add a smoky depth you can't get any other way
- Blend that chipotle mixture until it's completely smooth—nobody wants chunks of pepper skin in their creamy sauce
Substitutions and variations
Storage and leftovers
Plan ahead and reheat well
Make ahead
You can char and peel those poblanos up to 2 days ahead. Just store them covered in the fridge and they'll be ready when you are.
Storage
Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. The sauce might look a little separated when cold, but it comes right back together when you reheat it.
Reheat
Warm it gently in a skillet with a splash of milk or cream, tossing constantly until it's heated through and creamy again.
At the table
Serving suggestions
- Warm corn tortillas on the side turn this into a truly cross-cultural feast
- A simple salad of butter lettuce with lime vinaigrette cuts through all that richness perfectly
- Pour a cold Mexican beer or a crisp white wine—both work beautifully with the smoky heat
FAQ
Common questions
Can I use canned chipotles if I can't find them in adobo?
Those chipotle peppers in adobo are in the Latin foods section of pretty much every grocery store these days, and you really need that adobo sauce for the full flavor. Plain dried chipotles just won't give you the same rich, complex taste.
How do I know when the cream sauce is ready?
It should coat the back of a spoon nicely and cling to the pasta without being gluey or heavy. Too thick? Add a splash of pasta water. Too thin? Let it simmer another minute or two.
Heat profile
Medium heat
The recipe is classified as medium. Use less chile if you prefer milder food.
Skill level
Intermediate
Check the method for steps that need to be prepared at the same time.
Total time
35 min
Prep: 15 min. Cook: 20 min.
Yield
4 servings
The ingredient quantities below are for this yield.
Cook this with
Three useful buys before you start
A sauce, a pantry ingredient, and a kitchen tool to consider for this dish.
Sauce
Los Calientes Rojo
Heatonist · Best for tacos
Explore this sauce from the same cuisine: mexican.
Get the sauce used herePantry
Chipotle Peppers in Adobo
Smoky shortcut
Burger sauce, chili, and taco fillings. The pantry move for smoky mayo, burger sauce, taco braises, and chili that tastes like you actually thought ahead.
Grab the pantry stapleGear
Molcajete Mortar and Pestle
Sauce lab
Fresh salsa and chunky chili pastes. The right move for salsa macha, charred pepper pastes, and rough-textured marinades with bite.
Use this toolPair this with
The right bottle for this recipe
These sauce picks are matched to the dish itself, not dropped in at random. Use them to finish, sharpen, or push the heat where it helps.
Los Calientes Rojo
Explore this sauce from the same cuisine: mexican.
Heatonist Los Calientes Rojo: flavor notes, heat level, and suggested food pairings.
Yellowbird Habanero
Explore this sauce from the same cuisine: mexican.
A bright, carrot-forward bottle with enough heat to stay lively and enough sweetness to stay versatile.
Shop the pantry
Pantry staples for this recipe
Smoky shortcut
$4-$10Chipotle Peppers in Adobo
Burger sauce, chili, and taco fillings. The pantry move for smoky mayo, burger sauce, taco braises, and chili that tastes like you actually thought ahead.
Check price on AmazonPantry heat
$10-$18Calabrian Chili Paste
Pasta, sandwiches, and finishing sauces. Fruity Italian chili paste that wakes up vodka sauce, roast chicken, and garlicky pasta nights.
Check price on AmazonBright finisher
$4-$8Tajin Clasico Seasoning
Fruit, corn, snacks, and margarita nights. Citrusy chile seasoning for fruit, grilled corn, rims, cucumbers, and the kind of summer snacks that disappear fast.
Check price on AmazonRecommended equipment
Cooking tools
Sauce lab
$35-$60Molcajete Mortar and Pestle
Fresh salsa and chunky chili pastes. The right move for salsa macha, charred pepper pastes, and rough-textured marinades with bite.
Check price on AmazonKitchen staple
$25-$4512-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
Weeknight proteins and pan sauces. The sear-and-char pan for smash burgers, fajitas, cornbread, and anything that likes hard edges.
Check price on AmazonCook next
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