To make creamy cranberry jalapeño pasta, sauté a diced onion and garlic in olive oil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add 2 to 3 seeded, diced jalapeños and 1 cup of halved fresh cranberries for 2 to 3 more minutes. Add 2½ cups of uncooked penne, 2 cups of chicken broth and ⅓ cup of water, bring it to a boil, then cover and simmer on low for 20 minutes. Uncover and cook until the liquid is almost absorbed, then stir in 4 oz of cream cheese, ½ cup of shredded Monterey jack and green onions off the heat. It serves 6, all in one skillet.
This cranberry and jalapeño pasta dish is creamy, dreamy, delicious pasta with a little sweet and little heat. It all comes together in one skillet and is ready to go in no time at all.
A little bit of sweet combined with a little bit of heat, this cranberry and jalapeño pasta is a match made in heaven. This holiday season jalapeño and cranberry seems to be all the rage and I couldn’t wait to make a pasta dish with this dynamic flavor duo.
My family couldn’t get enough of this easy and delicious one-skillet creamy cranberry and jalapeño pasta dish. It went fast!
This creamy cranberry and jalapeño pasta dish is delicious comfort food that your entire family will love. I served it with Amylu’s Cranberry and Jalapeño Chicken Meatballs and it was so yummy. And the best part? This dish is made with super simple ingredients, and the pasta cooks right in the skillet with no separate pot of water.
Get ready to make this cranberry and jalapeño pasta dish on the regular! This one-skillet wonder is not only a time-saver but also a cozy, satisfying meal that will leave your loved ones asking for more.
why your whole family will love this cranberry and jalapeño pasta recipe
- Delicious Flavor. Tart fresh cranberries, a little jalapeño heat and a creamy cream cheese sauce.
- One Skillet. The penne cooks right in the broth, so there’s no pot of pasta water to boil and drain.
- Quick and Easy. 10 minutes of prep, then mostly hands-off simmering.
- Versatile and Customizable. Add meatballs, cooked chicken or sausage, or swap in Colby jack.
- Kid Friendly. You can adjust the heat and it’s very minimal with the seeds removed from the jalapeños!
ingredients
To make this easy, delicious one-pan recipe you’ll need a few ingredients that you can get at almost any grocery store or even online!
Here’s what we are working with:
- olive oil
- onion
- minced garlic
- jalapeño peppers
- cranberries
- uncooked penne pasta
- chicken broth
- cream cheese
- shredded Monterey jack cheese
- green onions
how to make cranberry and jalapeño skillet pasta
You’ll find the exact amounts and printable steps in the recipe card below. Here’s what each step looks like, plus the little things that make it work.
1. Soften the onion and garlic. In a large pan or skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; stir until translucent and soft, 2-3 minutes.
2. Add jalapeños and cranberries. Add diced jalapeños and cranberries to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper; cook for another 2-3 minutes.
3. Simmer the pasta. Add uncooked pasta, chicken broth, and water. Stir then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Uncover and cook until almost all the liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Give it a stir once or twice while it simmers so the penne doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
4. Make it creamy. Remove from heat; stir in cream cheese, shredded cheese, and diced green onions. Stir until cheese is melted.
5. Garnish and serve. Garnish with additional sliced jalapeños and dried cranberries. Enjoy!
can I meal prep creamy cranberry and jalapeño pasta?
Absolutely! This is a quick and easy meal that comes together in one pan which means more time for you to enjoy your weekend without a whole lot of time spent meal prepping. Simply divide this recipe into 4 meal prep containers. The flavors in this creamy sweet and spicy sauce have time to meld together, allowing all that goodness to absorb even more as leftovers. I added Amylu’s Cranberry and Jalapeño Chicken Meatballs to my prep. You will be set for the week with this meal. It’s a fantastic option for a complete, quick, and satisfying meal prep.
how to store and reheat cranberry jalapeño pasta
Refrigerate leftovers in airtight containers within 2 hours and eat them within 3 to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet over low heat with a splash of broth or milk, stirring until the sauce is creamy again. We don’t recommend freezing it, because cream cheese sauces can turn grainy when thawed.
tips for the best cranberry jalapeño pasta
- Halve the cranberries. Cut cranberries soften and melt into the sauce. Whole ones can pop and stay tough.
- Control the heat with the seeds. Remove the seeds and white ribs for a mild, kid-friendly pasta, or leave some in if you like it spicy.
- Take it off the heat before adding the cheese. Stirring the cream cheese and shredded cheese in off the heat keeps the sauce smooth instead of oily.
- Soften the cream cheese. Cube it, or let it sit at room temperature while the pasta simmers, so it melts in quickly.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. It’s definitely one of those recipes worth saving. There’s nothing better than having what looks and tastes like a gourmet meal on the table, but one that saves you time behind the scenes.
Please leave us a star review and comment if you make this family loved recipe.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. I answer every single question as quickly as I can.
Happy cooking! And thanks for being part of our tribe, The Tasteful Tribe!
ENJOY!
cranberry jalapeño pasta FAQs
Yes. Add them straight from the freezer, no need to thaw. They may take an extra minute to soften in the skillet.
Fresh or frozen cranberries give the sauce its tart, juicy bursts. Dried cranberries are sweeter and chewier, which is why we use them as a garnish. If dried is all you have, stir a small handful in at the end.
With the seeds removed from the jalapeños, it’s mild, with just a little warmth. For more heat, leave some seeds in or add extra sliced jalapeño on top.
Yes. Stir in cooked chicken meatballs, shredded rotisserie chicken or sliced cooked sausage at the end, along with the cheese, so it just heats through.
Short shapes like rigatoni, ziti or rotini work well. Cooking times vary, so start checking a few minutes early, and add a splash more broth if the liquid is absorbed before the pasta is tender.
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recipe video
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Creamy Cranberry and Jalapeño Pasta (Easy One-Skillet Meal!)
- SFSugar Free
- VGVegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2-3 jalapeno peppers, seeds removed, diced + extra sliced jalapeño for garnish
- 1 cup fresh cranberries, halved
- 2½ cups uncooked penne pasta
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ⅓ cup water
- 4 oz cream cheese
- ½ cup shredded Monterey jack or Colby jack cheese
- ¼ cup green onions, diced
- ¼ cup dried cranberries, optional for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pan or skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; stir until translucent and soft, 2-3 minutes. Add diced jalapeños and cranberries to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper; cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Add uncooked pasta, chicken broth, and water. Stir then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Uncover and cook until almost all the liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat; stir in cream cheese, shredded cheese, and diced green onions. Stir until cheese is melted.
- Garnish with additional sliced jalapeños and dried cranberries if desired. Enjoy!
Equipment
- 1 skillet
Nutrition
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