Easy Creamy Peruvian Churu Chicken Amarillo: Better Than Takeout
Creamy Peruvian Churu Chicken Amarillo is a quick, easy, and comforting dish that’s better than takeout. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to a rich, creamy sauce is to use a combination of heavy cream and evaporated milk. The result is a dish that’s light yet creamy, with a depth of flavor that will make your taste buds dance. Keep reading for my best tips, including how to prevent the #1 mistake that ruins this dish. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Delicious Authentic Spicy Peruvian Churu Chicken Amarillo Recipe and Creamy Parmesan Risotto With Saffron: Elevate Your Dinner Tonight.
Why This Easy Creamy Peruvian Churu Chicken Amarillo: Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Rich, creamy sauce with a light touch
- Packed with flavor from Peruvian spices
- Easy to make and ready in under 30 minutes
- Better than takeout and freezes well for meal prep
What You'll Need for Easy Creamy Peruvian Churu Chicken Amarillo: Better Than Takeout
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- chicken breasts
- yellow bell pepper
- onion
- garlic
- tomatoes
- heavy cream
- evaporated milk
- Peruvian aji amarillo paste
- cumin
- chili powder
- salt
- pepper
- olive oil
- Optional: fresh cilantro
- Optional: green onions
- Optional: lime wedges
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best for this recipe.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Immersion Blender — Makes blending the sauce a breeze and ensures a smooth, creamy texture. → See on Amazon
- Cast Iron Skillet — Even heat distribution ensures perfect searing and cooking of the chicken. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Creamy Peruvian Churu Chicken Amarillo: Better Than Takeout
- Step 1: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, cumin, and chili powder. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken for 5-7 minutes on each side until cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Step 3: Stir in aji amarillo paste and cook for 1 minute. Add heavy cream and evaporated milk, then bring to a simmer. Blend the sauce until smooth using an immersion blender.
- Step 4: Return the chicken to the skillet and cook for another 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken. Garnish with fresh cilantro and green onions. Serve with lime wedges.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Creamy Peruvian Churu Chicken Amarillo: Better Than Takeout
- Common mistake and fix: The #1 reason this recipe fails is using low-fat or non-dairy substitutes for the heavy cream and evaporated milk. To prevent this, stick to full-fat dairy products for a rich, creamy sauce.
- Pro tip: For an extra layer of flavor, marinate the chicken in the spices and olive oil for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Pro tip: To make this dish even creamier, stir in a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with a tablespoon of water before blending the sauce.
Storing & Reheating Easy Creamy Peruvian Churu Chicken Amarillo: Better Than Takeout
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: The chicken can be cooked and the sauce can be made ahead of time. Assemble and cook the final dish just before serving.
Freezing Easy Creamy Peruvian Churu Chicken Amarillo: Better Than Takeout
Freeze cooked chicken and sauce separately for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add more aji amarillo paste or serve with hot sauce on the side.
- Best substitution: No aji amarillo paste? Substitute with a mix of yellow bell pepper, garlic, and turmeric for color and mild heat.
- Make-ahead: The chicken can be cooked and the sauce can be made ahead of time. Assemble and cook the final dish just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, simmer it for a few more minutes to reduce and thicken. If it's too thick, add a splash of chicken broth to thin it out.
Want to level up this recipe?
Aji Amarillo Paste — The key to authentic Peruvian flavor, this paste is a must-have for this recipe. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Creamy Peruvian Churu Chicken Amarillo: Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- chicken breasts
- yellow bell pepper
- onion
- garlic
- tomatoes
- heavy cream
- evaporated milk
Seasonings
- Peruvian aji amarillo paste
- cumin
- chili powder
- salt
- pepper
- olive oil
Optional Toppings
- fresh cilantro
- green onions
- lime wedges
Instructions
- Step 1: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, cumin, and chili powder. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken for 5-7 minutes on each side until cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Step 3: Stir in aji amarillo paste and cook for 1 minute. Add heavy cream and evaporated milk, then bring to a simmer. Blend the sauce until smooth using an immersion blender.
- Step 4: Return the chicken to the skillet and cook for another 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken. Garnish with fresh cilantro and green onions. Serve with lime wedges.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add more aji amarillo paste or serve with hot sauce on the side.
- Best substitution: No aji amarillo paste? Substitute with a mix of yellow bell pepper, garlic, and turmeric for color and mild heat.
- Make-ahead: The chicken can be cooked and the sauce can be made ahead of time. Assemble and cook the final dish just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, simmer it for a few more minutes to reduce and thicken. If it's too thick, add a splash of chicken broth to thin it out.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken and sauce separately for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: The chicken can be cooked and the sauce can be made ahead of time. Assemble and cook the final dish just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 40g
- Fat: 28g
- Carbs: 15g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Cholesterol: 140mg
- Sat. Fat: 16g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Creamy Peruvian Churu Chicken Amarillo: Better Than Takeout FAQs
Yes, you can cook the chicken and make the sauce ahead of time. Assemble and cook the final dish just before serving.
The #1 reason this recipe fails is using low-fat or non-dairy substitutes for the heavy cream and evaporated milk. Stick to full-fat dairy products for a rich, creamy sauce.
Yes, cook the chicken and sauce in the slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours. Remove the chicken, shred it, and return it to the slow cooker for the final 30 minutes of cooking.
Yes, pressure cook the chicken and sauce for 10 minutes at high pressure. Release the pressure naturally, then remove the chicken, shred it, and return it to the pot for the final 5 minutes of cooking.
No aji amarillo paste? Substitute with a mix of yellow bell pepper, garlic, and turmeric for color and mild heat.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Creamy Peruvian Churu Chicken Amarillo: Better Than Takeout and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
