Description
How to make sticky honey garlic chicken pasta skillet with tender chicken, golden garlic sauce, and perfectly coated noodles in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Pasta
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz penne pasta or your favorite short pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
Honey Garlic Sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
Finishing Touches
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 3 green onions, sliced thin
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining. The starch in that pasta water will help bind our sauce later.
- Brown Chicken: Heat olive 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.
- Make Sauce: Add butter, garlic, and ginger to skillet with chicken. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Whisk together honey, soy sauce, vinegar, and cornstarch in small bowl.
- Add Liquids: Pour honey mixture and chicken broth into skillet. Bring to simmer and cook 3-4 minutes until sauce starts to thicken and becomes glossy and golden.
- Combine Everything: Add cooked pasta to skillet and toss to coat. Add pasta water gradually if needed to achieve perfect sticky consistency that coats every noodle beautifully.
- Finish Dish: Remove from heat and stir in sesame oil and half the green onions. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes as desired.
- Serve Hot: Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with remaining green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately while the sauce is still warm and glossy for best results.
Notes
- Don’t overcook the chicken or it becomes tough and dry in the final dish.
- Reserve pasta water before draining – the starch helps bind the sticky sauce perfectly.
- Toast sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes for deeper flavor.
- Store leftovers in airtight container for up to 3 days in refrigerator.
- Add pasta water gradually to control sauce consistency and prevent it from becoming too thin.
- Serve immediately while sauce is warm and glossy for best texture and appearance.
Allergy Information: Gluten, Soy, Sesame
Nutrition
- Calories: 485 calories
- Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Protein: 32g