Crispy Chicken Burrito Pasta (Printable)

Cheesy Tex-Mex pasta with seasoned crispy chicken, black beans, and corn in a zesty tomato sauce.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs), cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
03 - 1 tsp ground cumin
04 - ½ tsp chili powder
05 - ½ tsp garlic powder
06 - ½ tsp onion powder
07 - 1 tsp salt
08 - ½ tsp black pepper
09 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Pasta & Sauce

10 - 10 oz penne or rigatoni pasta
11 - 1 tbsp olive oil
12 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
13 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
14 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
15 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
16 - 1 can (14 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
17 - 1 cup frozen corn
18 - 1½ cups chicken broth
19 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
20 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
21 - 1 tsp hot sauce (optional)
22 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Garnishes

23 - 2 spring onions, sliced
24 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
25 - Sour cream and lime wedges, to serve

# How to Prepare:

01 - In a bowl, combine the chicken with smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Toss until evenly coated.
02 - Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces and cook until golden and crispy on all sides and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Remove to a plate and keep warm.
03 - In the same skillet, add 1 tbsp olive oil. Sauté onion and bell pepper for 3–4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add drained tomatoes, black beans, and corn to the skillet. Stir to combine and heat through.
05 - Pour in chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Stir in the uncooked pasta. Cover and cook for 12–14 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most liquid is absorbed.
06 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in half the cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses until melted, then return chicken to the pan and mix thoroughly.
07 - Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Cover for 2 minutes to melt, or broil for extra crispiness if desired. Garnish with spring onions, cilantro, sour cream, and lime wedges before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan, meaning minimal cleanup and maximum flavor development
  • The crispy seasoned chicken creates those irresistible burrito bowl textures you love
  • It feeds four people comfortably but somehow disappears even faster when you have company over
02 -
  • Drain those canned tomatoes really well or your sauce might end up too thin and never properly absorb into the pasta
  • Don't skip the step of removing the chicken before cooking the vegetables, or it'll lose that perfect crispy texture we're after
  • The pasta continues cooking in the hot sauce even after you turn off the heat, so slightly undercook it during the initial boil
03 -
  • Let the chicken get properly golden brown before removing it, as those browned bits add incredible depth to the overall dish
  • Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded, as it melts so much better and creates that authentic restaurant-style texture
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