Honey Pepper Chicken with Creamy Garlic Butter Pasta
Golden, crispy chicken coated in a sticky-sweet honey pepper glaze served over silky creamy garlic butter pasta. This restaurant-quality dinner comes together in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you want something special without the fuss.
- Total Time30 minutes
- Yield4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Honey Pepper Chicken
- 1 lb chicken breast (cut into bite-size cubes)
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Honey Pepper Sauce
- 0.25 cup honey
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp cracked black pepper (adjust to taste)
- 0.5 tsp chili flakes (optional)
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice)
For the Creamy Garlic Butter Pasta
- 8 oz spaghetti or linguine
- 3 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- to taste salt and black pepper
- fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Prepare the Chicken: In a bowl, toss the chicken cubes with cornstarch, salt, pepper, and paprika until well coated.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer and cook for 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Make the Honey Pepper Glaze: In the same skillet, lower the heat and add butter, honey, soy sauce, black pepper, chili flakes, and vinegar. Stir and simmer for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened. Return chicken and toss until fully coated in the glossy sauce.
- Prepare the Creamy Garlic Butter Pasta: In another pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in cream and simmer gently for 2-3 minutes. Stir in Parmesan, season with salt and pepper, then add cooked pasta. Toss until creamy, adding reserved pasta water if needed.
- Serve: Plate the creamy garlic butter pasta and top with honey pepper chicken. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Don’t skip reserving pasta water—it’s essential for achieving a silky, cohesive cream sauce. For extra crispy chicken, let the coated pieces sit for a few minutes before cooking and avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Cuisine: American, Fusion
Nutrition
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 890
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
