Description
How to make creamy one pot chicken pasta with sweet honey and spicy pepper jack cheese that’s ready in just 30 minutes for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein & Base
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
Flavor Builders
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
Seasonings
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Cheese & Garnish
- 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Season Chicken: Pat chicken pieces dry and season generously with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. This ensures golden browning and prevents the chicken from steaming in the pot.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 5-6 minutes until golden brown. Don’t overcrowd the pan.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add onion and bell pepper to the pot and cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant and aromatic.
- Add Liquids: Pour in chicken broth, honey, thyme, and cayenne. Stir well to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom for maximum flavor development.
- Cook Pasta: Add pasta to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Finish Sauce: Stir in heavy cream and cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat and gradually add pepper jack cheese, stirring until melted and creamy throughout.
- Serve Hot: Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately while the cheese is perfectly melted and the pasta is steaming hot.
Notes
- Don’t add cheese while the pot is still on heat or it will become stringy and separate.
- Stir pasta frequently during cooking to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors continue to meld together.
- Adjust honey to taste – some prefer it sweeter, others like more subtle sweetness.
- Pat chicken completely dry before seasoning for the best golden browning results.
- Reserve some cooking liquid in case you need to thin the sauce later.
Allergy Information: Dairy, Gluten
Nutrition
- Calories: 485 calories
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Protein: 28g