Description
How to make sticky sweet garlic chicken and sausage pasta with tender meat, aromatic garlic sauce that creates the perfect weeknight comfort meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein & Pasta
- 1 lb penne pasta
- 1 lb boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz Italian sausage, casings removed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Sauce Base
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water
Seasonings & Garnish
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring large pot of salted water to boil and cook penne according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining completely.
- Brown Sausage: Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage, breaking it into small pieces with wooden spoon. Cook until golden and crispy, about 5-6 minutes.
- Add Chicken: Add chicken pieces to skillet with sausage. Season with salt and pepper, cook until chicken is golden brown and cooked through, approximately 6-8 minutes total.
- Make Sauce: Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cook for 30 seconds until aromatic. Whisk together soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, and rice vinegar in bowl.
- Combine Everything: Pour sauce mixture into skillet, bring to simmer. Add cornstarch slurry and cooked pasta, tossing everything together until sauce coats pasta beautifully and thickens slightly.
- Finish Dish: Remove from heat, add half the green onions and parsley. Toss gently, adding pasta water if needed. Serve immediately topped with remaining herbs, sesame seeds, and Parmesan.
Notes
- Don’t burn the garlic or it will taste bitter and ruin the sauce.
- Reserve pasta water before draining; you’ll likely need it to loosen the sauce.
- Chicken thighs work better than breasts for staying tender and juicy.
- Sauce thickens as it cools, so serve immediately for best consistency.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day after flavors develop.
- Double the recipe easily for feeding a crowd or meal prep.
Allergy Information: Gluten, Dairy, Soy
Nutrition
- Calories: 485 calories
- Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Protein: 32g