1-Step 1: Prepare and Season the Chicken Begin by slicing your chicken breast into small, bite-sized pieces. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the chicken to the hot skillet and immediately sprinkle with half of the cumin (1.5 teaspoons), half of the chili powder (1.5 teaspoons), and half of the salt (¼ teaspoon). The high heat will help seal in the juices and create a beautiful sear on the chicken. Cook for several minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.

2-Step 2: Cook the Bell Peppers Using the same skillet (this allows the chicken drippings to add extra flavor), add your sliced bell peppers. Cook for a couple of minutes until they begin to soften but still retain some crunch. For a more intense flavor, you might want to cook them until they develop slight caramelization. Once the peppers have reached your desired tenderness, stir in the diced green chiles. The combination of fresh bell peppers and canned chiles creates a wonderful depth of flavor in the dish.

3-Step 3: Prepare the Pasta While the vegetables are cooking, prepare your fettuccine pasta according to the package instructions. Be careful not to overcook the pasta, as it will continue to cook slightly when added back to the skillet later. Once cooked to al dente, drain the pasta well, ensuring no excess water remains that could dilute your sauce. You can toss the pasta with a small amount of olive oil to prevent the strands from sticking together while you finish preparing the sauce.

4-Step 4: Combine Chicken, Vegetables, and Pasta Return the cooked chicken to the skillet with the bell peppers and green chiles. Add the drained pasta to the mixture. Stir everything together to start combining the flavors. This step begins the process of creating a cohesive dish where each component complements the others.

5-Step 5: Create the Creamy Sauce Base Pour in the heavy cream and milk, stirring gently to combine all the ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil, which will help kickstart the thickening process. Be sure to stir continuously to prevent the dairy from scorching on the bottom of the pan. The milk helps lighten the cream, creating a sauce that’s rich without being overwhelmingly heavy.

6-Step 6: Add and Melt the Cheeses Once the mixture begins to boil, immediately add the shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Stir constantly until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy. The combination of cheddar and mozzarella creates a sauce with great flavor and perfect meltability. If the sauce seems too thick at this point, you can add a splash more milk to reach your desired consistency.

7-Step 7: Final Seasoning and Serving Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Add the remaining half of the cumin (1.5 teaspoons), chili powder (1.5 teaspoons), and salt (¼ teaspoon). Stir to combine all the seasonings into the sauce. Taste the pasta and adjust seasonings if needed you might want more salt, cumin, or chili powder depending on your preferences. Once you’re happy with the flavor, the dish is ready to serve. Garnish with fresh cilantro or sliced jalapeños if you fancy some extra color and heat.