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Easy Honey Pepper Chicken Pasta

Easy Honey Pepper Chicken Pasta
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Easy Honey Pepper Chicken Pasta is a quick, flavorful dish combining tender chicken, sweet honey, and freshly ground black pepper tossed with pasta. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights and offers a balanced blend of sweet and spicy flavors with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale

Proteins & Pasta

  • 2 boneless chicken breasts, sliced into bite-sized pieces
  • 8 ounces penne or fusilli pasta

Sauces & Oils

  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Produce & Aromatics

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large bell pepper, diced (any color)
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Salt, to taste
  • Fresh parsley or basil, chopped for garnish

Optional Ingredients

  • Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, for serving

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces and dice the bell peppers. Mince the garlic so it’s ready to use.
  2. Cook the Pasta: Boil the pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain, reserving some pasta water for later use.
  3. Sauté the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes.
  4. Add Bell Peppers and Garlic: Add the diced bell peppers and garlic to the same pan. Sauté until the peppers soften and the garlic is fragrant, about 2–3 minutes.
  5. Create the Honey Pepper Sauce: Drizzle honey over the chicken and vegetables, stirring well to coat evenly. Adjust black pepper to taste for a balanced sweet and spicy flavor.
  6. Combine Pasta and Finish: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and gently toss everything together. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen.
  7. Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat, sprinkle chopped parsley or basil and freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top if desired, and serve warm.

Notes

  • Use freshly ground black pepper to elevate flavor.
  • Avoid overcooking chicken to keep it juicy and tender.
  • Taste sauce frequently to balance honey sweetness and pepper spice.
  • Reserve some pasta water to help the sauce cling to the pasta.
  • Choose pasta shapes like penne or fusilli that hold sauce well.
  • Optional: Add crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.

Nutrition

Keywords: honey pepper chicken pasta, easy chicken pasta, weeknight dinner, one-pan chicken pasta, honey chicken, quick pasta recipe

Find it online: https://lillysplate.com/easy-honey-pepper-chicken-pasta/