Chicken with Chipotle Cream Sauce

Chicken with Chipotle Cream Sauce is a spicy, rich, and cheesy dish. The chipotle peppers add a touch of smokiness and the perfect amount of spice, while the added spinach makes this a complete meal on its own. It’s also delicious over pasta or spaghetti squash. The recipe is low carb, keto friendly, and gluten free.

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Having a constant stream of variety and flavor helps to keep things fresh and prevent boredom is important regardless of if you’re following a special diet or not. The chipotle cream sauce in this recipe definitely prevents anyone from complaining about eating chicken…again.

It’s a beautiful, colorful dish with a deep yellow sauce, red chipotle peppers, and green spinach and cilantro.

This isn’t meant to be an authentic Mexican recipe or anything like that, but it definitely has some Mexican flavor to it, especially if you add a little fresh cilantro as garnish. I could definitely see serving Homemade Queso as an appetizer to this meal.

Why This Recipe Works

Like most of my recipes, this one is also very easy and fairly quick to make. It’s perfect for a delicious weeknight dinner and can be made family-friendly with less spice, if needed.

The sauce is pretty much just a basic cream sauce with added chipotle peppers in adobo sauce which add so much flavor and smokiness. There is no flour in the recipe, but the sauce will still be plenty thick enough to coat the chicken and spinach.

This recipe, as written, will result in a meal that has a smoky, cheesy flavor with just enough spice that you might want to keep a cup of water close by.

You can control the amount of spice. Create a milder sauce by removing all of the seeds from the chipotle peppers before adding them to the sauce. For more spice, keep all the seeds in and add another pepper if you want it really hot!

This recipe can be served as is, or over a variety of bases. As is, this recipe is very keto-friendly. To keep the meal low carb, serve it over spaghetti squash. If you’re not low carb or are cooking for people with different dietary needs, you can serve it over traditional pasta (gluten free, if needed) or even sweet potato noodles!

While there is a variety of recipes on Delicious Little Bites, there are quite a few low carb recipes as that is how I usually eat. You can check out the low carb recipe section of my Recipe Index for more ideas. There is also a gluten free section, as well.

How to Make Chicken with Chipotle Cream Sauce

What You Need To Make This Recipe

To make this recipe, you will need:

• 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3-4 chipotle peppers, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 4 ounces spinach (fresh)
• fresh cilantro, optional

The entire recipe and instructions can also be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. You can also print the recipe from the card, if needed.

Prep!

Cut the chicken into bite-size cubes. Mince the garlic and finely chop the chipotle peppers.

Chef’s Tip: remove some or all of the seeds from the chipotles before dicing them, for a milder sauce.

Create!

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add it to the skillet. Cook until it is no longer pink in the center, about 7 to 8 minutes. Remove to a plate or bowl and set aside.

Return the pan to the stovetop and add the butter.

Once the butter is melted, add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring frequently.

Add the chipotle peppers and cook for an additional 30 seconds.

Slowly pour in the heavy cream and increase the heat to bring to a boil.

Lower until the cream comes to a simmer, then whisk in the Parmesan cheese until smooth.

Stir the chicken back in, then the spinach, and allow it to cook down until it’s wilted and well combined with the sauce.

Present!

Garnish with chopped, fresh cilantro, if desired.

Chef’s Tip: you can serve this meal as is, or over spaghetti squash to keep it low carb, or over gluten free or regular pasta for added heartiness.

Tips and Techniques

• There should be no need to add flour to this recipe. Just be sure to let the cream come to a boil, then lower and let it come to a simmer before whisking in the Parmesan cheese. That should be enough to give you a thick, creamy sauce.
• If you want a milder sauce, remove the chipotle seeds by cutting the pepper in half and scraping them out with the flat edge of your knife, then mince the remaining pepper. The more seeds you leave in, the spicier the sauce will be.
• Serve this meal as is, or over spaghetti squash to keep it low carb, or over gluten free or regular pasta for added heartiness.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-4 days.

FAQ’s

Can You Freeze Chipotle Cream Sauce?

While you can freeze this sauce, typically freezing cream based sauces will result in a change in consistency and texture once thawed and reheated.

More Chicken Skillet Recipes

Here are a few other chicken skillet meals that you might enjoy:

• Garlic Chicken Pasta
• Lemon Garlic Chicken
• Chicken Enchilada Pasta
• Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Skillet

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Print

Chicken with Chipotle Cream Sauce

Chicken with Chipotle Cream Sauce is a spicy, rich, and cheesy dish. The chipotle peppers add a touch of smokiness and the perfect amount of spice, while the added spinach makes this a complete meal on it’s own. It’s also delicious over pasta or spaghetti squash.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Chicken, Gluten Free, Low Carb

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 539kcal

Author Lauren Harris

Ingredients

• 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts * cut into bite size pieces
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 2 cloves garlic * minced
• 3-4 chipotle peppers with adobo sauce * finely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese * grated
• 4 ounces spinach leaves
• fresh cilantro * optional garnish

Instructions

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add it to the skillet. Cook until it is no longer pink in the center, about 7 to 8 minutes. Remove to a plate or bowl and set aside.
• Return the pan to the stovetop and add the butter. Once the butter is melted, add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring frequently.
• Add the chipotle peppers and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
• Slowly pour in the heavy cream and increase the heat to bring to a boil. Lower until the cream comes to a simmer. Cook 2-3 minutes until thickened.
• Whisk in the Parmesan cheese until smooth.
• Stir the chicken back in and cook 1-2 minutes to re-warm.
• Add the spinach and cook until wilted and combined well with the sauce.
• Garnish with chopped, fresh cilantro, if desired.

Notes

Tips and Techniques

• There should be no need to add flour to this recipe. Just be sure to let the cream come to a boil, then lower and let it come to a simmer before whisking in the Parmesan cheese. That should be enough to give you a thick, creamy sauce.
• If you want a milder sauce, remove the chipotle seeds by cutting the pepper in half and scraping them out with the flat edge of your knife, then mince the remaining pepper. The more seeds you leave in, the spicier the sauce will be.
• Serve this meal as is, or over spaghetti squash to keep it low carb, or over gluten free or regular pasta for added heartiness.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-4 days.

** Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 539kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Cholesterol: 196mg | Sodium: 828mg | Potassium: 585mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 3161IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 266mg | Iron: 1mg

This recipe was originally published on August 16, 2018. It was updated with new images, more thorough instructions, tips, techniques, and FAQ’s in August 2020.