Description
How to make sticky honey soy chicken penne with tender pasta and golden chicken in a sweet-savory glaze that’s ready in just 30 minutes for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
Sauce Components
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Flavor Builders
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 green onions, sliced thin
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring salted water to boil and cook penne according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining, then set pasta aside.
- Sear Chicken: Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then cook 5-6 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Build Aromatics: Add garlic and ginger to chicken, stirring constantly for 30 seconds until fragrant. Don’t let them burn or they’ll turn bitter and ruin everything.
- Make Sauce: Whisk cornstarch with chicken broth until smooth, then add honey, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil. Pour into skillet and bring to simmer.
- Combine Everything: Add cooked pasta to skillet and toss with sauce for 2-3 minutes until pasta is well coated and sauce is glossy and thick.
- Finish and Serve: Remove from heat and sprinkle with red pepper flakes, green onions, sesame seeds, and cilantro. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
Notes
- Don’t add honey directly to hot pan or it will burn and turn bitter.
- Reserve pasta water before draining to thin sauce if needed.
- Chicken thighs stay juicier than breasts but either works fine.
- Sauce thickens as it cools, add broth when reheating.
- Toast sesame seeds in dry pan for better flavor and crunch.
- Store leftovers in refrigerator up to 3 days in airtight container.
Allergy Information: Soy, Sesame, Gluten
Nutrition
- Calories: 485 calories
- Fat: 14g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Protein: 32g