Description
How to make Honey Pepper Chicken Pasta with tender chicken and a sweet & spicy sauce that’s perfect for a quick and delicious weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- Main Components:
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, cored and diced
- Sweet & Spicy Sauce:
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more, to taste)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- Garnish:
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prep Ingredients: Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces, dice yellow onion and red bell pepper, and mince garlic. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil for the penne pasta, ensuring it’s ready for cooking.
- Make Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, low-sodium soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, chicken broth, and cornstarch until thoroughly combined. This forms the sweet and spicy foundation for your irresistible Honey Pepper Chicken Pasta sauce.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are beautifully browned and cooked through. Season generously with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Sauté Veggies: Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside. Add the diced onion and red bell pepper to the same skillet, cooking for 3-5 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic for the final minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Thicken Sauce: Pour the prepared sweet & spicy sauce mixture into the skillet with the sautéed vegetables. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly, until it visibly thickens to a glossy consistency. This creates the perfect coating.
- Combine Pasta: Add the cooked penne pasta (drain if not already) and the browned chicken back into the skillet with the thickened sauce and vegetables. Toss everything together until all ingredients are evenly coated in the delicious Honey Pepper Chicken Pasta sauce.
- Garnish & Serve: Transfer the finished Honey Pepper Chicken Pasta to individual serving bowls. Garnish generously with fresh chopped parsley and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately and enjoy your comforting, sweet & spicy dream meal!