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Need a ridiculously good recipe that your family will devour? Make this easy salsa verde chicken pasta in as little as 25 minutes.
What is in Salsa Verde?
This one-of-a-kind sauce is made with tomatillos, as well as peppers, cilantro, onion, and spices. Unlike pico de gallo or regular salsa, all the veggies are roasted and then blended together into a smooth sauce.
Salsa verde chicken tacos are one of my favorite recipes from the Taco Tuesday Cookbook, so it was a matter of time to turn those epic flavors into this creamy pasta dish everyone loves!
Ingredients
To turn plain pasta into this out-of-this-world meal, you’ll need chicken breasts or thighs, salsa verde, chicken broth, half and half, and cheese (shredded pepper or Monterey Jack cheese).
Can I use leftover chicken for this recipe?
You can absolutely use leftover chicken to make this recipe and save time! Skip the first step of cooking the chicken pieces in the pan and simply add it to the skillet when the pasta is ready.
How to Make Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta
If you’re not using chicken leftovers, the first step is cooking the chicken in the skillet for 6-7 minutes. Then, cook the pasta for 15 minutes with the broth, the half and half, and salsa verde so the pasta absorbs those flavors too. Add the cooked chicken, the cheese, and this meal is ready to make your family drool!
If you’re using leftover salsa verde chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken, here is how to use it in this pasta recipe:
How to Make Salsa Verde Chicken in the Slow Cooker
In the bowl of your slow cooker, place the chicken and salsa verde. Cook it on high for 4 hours, until the chicken separates easily with a fork. Then, add the other liquid ingredients and the pasta, and cook for 20 minutes until all the liquid has been absorbed and the pasta is ready. Then add the cheese, stir, and serve.
What else can you make with Salsa Verde Chicken?
Salsa verde can be used in any recipe you’d use traditional salsa in. I love it in some of these savory breakfast ideas, on top of chicken with peppers and onions, or drizzled over some Mexican cauliflower rice.
Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breasts or thighs, boneless, skinless, cut into pieces
- Salt and pepper, for seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup salsa verde
- ½ cup half and half
- 12 ounces pasta
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
Cook the chicken:
- Pat dry the chicken with a paper towel, cut it into 1-inch pieces, and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet (with a lid) over medium-high heat. Once hot, heat up the oil. Place the chicken pieces in the pan, cook them for about 3 to 4 minutes undisturbed, and then toss them or flip them over to cook the other side for an additional 3 minutes. Remove from the pan onto a plate and cover with another plate to keep warm.
Cook the pasta:
- To the hot skillet, add the chicken broth and with a wooden spatula, scrape the tidbits from the bottom of the pan –these add lots of flavor. Add the salsa verde, half and half, and uncooked pasta. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer for 15 minutes.
Combine:
- Once the pasta is cooked, add the chicken back into the pan and ⅔ of the cheese. Stir until the cheese has melted, the chicken is heated through, and the sauce is creamy.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top, cover with the lid for a minute to melt the cheese, and serve.
Notes
- To use leftover chicken in this recipe, skip the first step and simply add it to the skillet when the pasta is ready until the chicken is heated through.
- To make this recipe in the slow cooker, place the chicken and salsa verde in the bowl of the slow cooker. Cook it on high for 4 hours until the chicken separates easily with a fork. Then, add the other liquid ingredients and the pasta, and cook for 20 minutes until all the liquid has been absorbed and the pasta is ready. Then add the cheese, stir, and serve.
Sheena says
My teens and husband loved this! They want me to make sure it isn’t a recipe I make once and forget about!
Alicia says
My husband and I really enjoyed this dish!! Next time I plan to make it with your salsa verde chicken in the slow cooker recipe. I only had grilled chicken on hand. I doubled the sauce because we like our pasta saucy. 🙂 Yummy!!
Laura Fuentes says
So glad you guys enjoyed it. This is one of my family’s favorite dinners too!