Blackened Chicken Penne with Charred Poblano and Monterey Jack

This pasta dish breaks all the rules-and it’s absolutely delicious. Instead of sticking to traditional Italian flavors, we’ve loaded penne with smoky blackened chicken, charred poblano pepper and a rich Monterey Jack cheese sauce. The result is a creamy, slightly spicy and deeply satisfying meal that comes together in under 35 minutes.

Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe uses simple ingredients like chicken breast strips, penne pasta and fresh produce. The blackening spice gives the chicken a beautiful crust, while the poblano adds a mild heat and charred flavor. Top it all with fresh tomato and scallions for a burst of color and freshness.

Log in to save recipes and build weekly shopping lists.

Ingredients

1 unit Poblano PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit ScallionsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 clove GarlicView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Roma TomatoView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Chicken Breast StripsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Blackening SpiceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

6 ounce Penne PastaView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 tablespoon Cream CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 cup Monterey Jack CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Chicken Stock ConcentrateView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Hot SauceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Olive OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Salt, to tasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Pepper, to tasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, wash and dry all produce. Core, deseed and dice the poblano into ½-inch pieces. Trim and thinly slice the scallions, separating the white parts from the green tops. Peel and thinly slice the garlic. Finely chop the tomato.
2. In a large bowl, combine a drizzle of olive oil, the blackening spice and a few pinches of salt. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, add to the bowl and toss to coat evenly.
3. Once the water is boiling, add the penne and cook until al dente, 9-11 minutes. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
4. While the pasta cooks, heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the diced poblano and a pinch of salt. Cook without stirring until lightly charred, 3-4 minutes. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes. Stir in the scallion whites and garlic; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add half the chopped tomato and a pinch of salt, then reduce heat to medium-low.
5. Stir in the cream cheese and ⅓ cup of the reserved pasta water. Add the drained penne and cook, stirring, until well combined, 1-2 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the Monterey Jack cheese, chicken stock concentrate, butter and hot sauce to taste. Stir until the butter has melted and the sauce is creamy. Season with salt and pepper. If the sauce seems too thick, add more reserved pasta water a splash at a time.
6. Divide the pasta among bowls. Garnish with the scallion greens and remaining chopped tomato. Drizzle with extra hot sauce if desired.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different type of pasta?

Yes, any short pasta like fusilli, rigatoni or farfalle works well. Adjust cooking time according to package directions.

What can I substitute for blackening spice?

You can make your own blend with paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme and oregano. Use about 1 tablespoon.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

As written, it contains wheat from the penne. Use gluten-free pasta to make it gluten-free and check that your blackening spice is gluten-free.