Description
This honey pepper chicken pasta is a quick, tasty option perfect for an easy dinner or weeknight meal. It balances sweet honey with spicy black pepper for a family dinner everyone will enjoy. This quick pasta recipe is ideal for busy nights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts about 1 lb or 450g sliced into thin strips
- 8 oz pasta 225g penne or fusilli recommended
- 3 tbsp honey raw local preferred
- 2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes optional for extra heat
- salt to taste
- 1 handful fresh parsley chopped
- grated Parmesan cheese optional for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente, about 9 to 11 minutes. Drain, reserving half a cup of pasta water.
- While the pasta cooks, slice the chicken into thin strips and heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and cook for 4 to 5 minutes on each side until golden and fully cooked, then set aside.
- Lower the heat to medium and add the minced garlic to the skillet, stirring constantly for about a minute until fragrant.
- Add the honey, freshly cracked black pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired, allowing the mixture to bubble and thicken slightly for one minute while stirring.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and coat it well with the honey pepper sauce. Then add the drained pasta and a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce, mixing everything evenly.
- Turn off the heat, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top, toss gently, and serve immediately with grated Parmesan cheese if you like.
Notes
- Always use freshly cracked black pepper since pre-ground will not deliver the same result
- Slice chicken thin for faster cooking and better sauce absorption
- Reserve pasta water before draining to keep the sauce silky
- Chicken thighs can replace breasts for a juicier result
- add 1 to 2 extra minutes cook time
- For gluten-free, swap pasta for brown rice or chickpea pasta
- Honey can be substituted with maple syrup or agave nectar in equal amounts
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Calories: 450