Description
Honey Pepper Chicken Pasta is a delectable dish that strikes the perfect balance between sweet and spicy flavors. It’s a family-favorite recipe that combines tender chicken, a luscious honey pepper sauce, and a creamy garlic pasta – all in one satisfying meal. This dish is sure to become a new regular in your dinner rotation, leaving your taste buds thoroughly delighted.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon black pepper (freshly cracked)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
- 12 ounce penne pasta
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
Instructions
1. Cook the penne pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the bite-sized chicken pieces and season them with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cook the chicken for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it’s nicely browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
3. In the same skillet used for the chicken, add the honey, soy sauce, freshly cracked black pepper, apple cider vinegar, and hot sauce (if using). Simmer the sauce for 1 to 2 minutes, allowing it to thicken slightly. Then, add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and toss it to coat evenly in the honey pepper sauce.
4. In a separate skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté it for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Stir in the heavy cream and simmer for 2 minutes. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and stir until the sauce is smooth. Finally, add the cooked penne pasta and toss everything together, loosening the pasta with the reserved pasta water as needed.
5. To serve, place the creamy garlic pasta on a plate and top it with the honey pepper chicken. Garnish the dish with chopped parsley and a sprinkle of extra black pepper, if desired.
Notes
The beauty of Honey Pepper Chicken Pasta is that it’s highly adaptable to your taste preferences. If you want to make the dish spicier, simply add more hot sauce or use a hotter variety. For a milder version, reduce the amount of black pepper in the sauce. You can also incorporate various vegetables, such as sautéed bell peppers, broccoli, or spinach, to make it a more well-rounded meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 33g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 120mg