Description
How to make smoky honey butter chicken penne with tender chicken and creamy sauce that brings comfort food magic to your weeknight dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Pasta
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Smoky Honey Butter Sauce
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Creamy Base and Garnish
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring large pot of salted water to boil and cook penne 1 minute less than package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining – you’ll need it later.
- Season Chicken: Pat chicken pieces dry and season with salt and pepper. Dry chicken sears better and won’t steam in the pan, giving you that golden color we want.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken 5-6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Don’t overcrowd the pan or it steams instead.
- Make Sauce: Reduce heat to medium and add butter to same pan. Stir in honey, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add Cream: Slowly pour in cream and broth, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Simmer 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened and the sauce coats a spoon nicely.
- Combine Everything: Add cooked pasta and Parmesan to the sauce, tossing to coat. Use pasta water to thin if needed. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice.
- Serve Hot: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately while the sauce is creamy and perfect. The pasta continues absorbing sauce as it sits, so don’t delay.
Notes
- Don’t skip reserving pasta water – it’s essential for perfect sauce consistency.
- Store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Chicken thighs work better than breasts for staying tender and juicy.
- Serve immediately while sauce is creamy and hasn’t been absorbed by pasta.
- Brown the butter slightly for deeper flavor before adding other sauce ingredients.
- Use smoked paprika, not regular paprika, for that distinctive smoky taste.
Allergy Information: Dairy, Gluten
Nutrition
- Calories: 485 calories
- Fat: 24g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Protein: 28g