Description
How to make one pan smoky honey BBQ chicken cheddar pasta with tender chicken and creamy sauce that’s ready in 30 minutes for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce Components
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder
- 3 cups chicken broth
Creamy Finish
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 green onions, sliced for garnish
Instructions
- Brown Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then cook 5-6 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, add diced onion and cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Build Sauce: Stir in BBQ sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, and chipotle chili powder. Mix well and let bubble for 1-2 minutes to meld flavors together beautifully.
- Cook Pasta: Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Stir in pasta, reduce heat to medium, and simmer 12-15 minutes until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Add Creaminess: Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream and softened cream cheese until smooth. Add cooked chicken back to the skillet and mix gently to coat everything.
- Melt Cheese: Remove from heat and gradually stir in shredded cheddar cheese until completely melted and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve Hot: Garnish with sliced green onions and serve immediately while hot and creamy. The cheese sauce will thicken as it cools, so enjoy this comfort food right away.
Notes
- Don’t boil the sauce after adding cream or it may curdle and break.
- Stir pasta frequently while cooking to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Freshly shredded cheese melts much better than pre-shredded varieties.
- Sauce will thicken as it cools, so serve immediately for best texture.
- Leftovers reheat well with a splash of broth or milk to loosen the sauce.
Allergy Information: Dairy, Gluten
Nutrition
- Calories: 485 calories
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Protein: 28g