Honey Pepper Chicken Pasta – Sweet, Spicy & Creamy

Bring bold, cozy flavors to your dinner table in just 30 minutes with Honey Pepper Chicken Pasta. This dish combines tender chicken pieces, a creamy pasta sauce, and the perfect balance of sweet honey and cracked black pepper for a dinner that’s both comforting and indulgent.

The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity: one pan, quick prep, and flavor-packed results. Whether it’s a busy weeknight or a weekend treat, this pasta will feel like a restaurant-quality meal at home.

Why You’ll Love It

• Quick & Easy: 30 minutes from start to finish.
• Perfect Flavor Balance: Sweet honey meets bold cracked black pepper.
• Creamy & Cozy: Rich sauce clings to each pasta strand.
• Family-Friendly: Picky eaters love the sweet-savory combo.

Ingredients

For the Chicken & Sauce

• 1 lb (450g) boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• Salt, to taste
• ½ cup chicken broth
• ½ cup heavy cream

For the Pasta

• 12 oz fettuccine or your choice of pasta
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

1. Cook Pasta:
   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Cook Chicken:
   Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced chicken, season with salt and cracked black pepper, and cook until golden and cooked through (~5–6 minutes). Remove chicken from skillet.
3. Make Sauce:
   In the same skillet, sauté garlic and optional red pepper flakes for 1–2 minutes. Add honey, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Stir and simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
4. Combine Chicken and Pasta:
   Return chicken to the skillet and toss to coat in sauce. Add cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese, tossing until well coated.
5. Serve & Garnish:
   Plate pasta and garnish with chopped parsley and extra cracked black pepper. Serve immediately.

Chef’s Tips

• Spice Control: Adjust red pepper flakes for desired heat.
• Honey Options: Use clover, wildflower, or orange blossom honey for subtle flavor differences.
• Cheese Upgrade: Add mozzarella or asiago for extra creaminess.
• Make Ahead: Sauce can be prepped and stored; add freshly cooked pasta and chicken before serving.

Honey Pepper Chicken Pasta

Tender chicken with a sweet honey and cracked black pepper sauce tossed with creamy pasta — a quick, flavorful weeknight dinner in 30 minutes.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4 plates

Course: Dinner, Main Dish

Cuisine: American, Italian Fusion

Calories: 520

Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients

  

Chicken & Sauce

• 1 lb chicken breasts diced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes optional
• 0.25 cup honey
• 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
• salt to taste
• 0.5 cup chicken broth
• 0.5 cup heavy cream

Pasta & Garnish

• 12 oz fettuccine
• 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• To taste fresh parsley chopped

Equipment

• Skillet
• Pot for pasta
• Mixing spoon

Method

 

1. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, drain.
2. Cook chicken in olive oil until golden and cooked through, remove from skillet.
3. Sauté garlic and red pepper flakes, add honey, chicken broth, and cream; simmer.
4. Return chicken to skillet, toss with sauce, add pasta and Parmesan.
5. Plate, garnish with parsley and extra cracked pepper, serve immediately.