Honey Chipotle Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Seared chicken with penne in a creamy honey chipotle sauce with fresh herbs. A bold, satisfying American pasta dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
03 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Pasta

07 - 12 ounces penne pasta

→ Sauce

08 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
09 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
11 - 3 tablespoons honey
12 - 1 cup heavy cream
13 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
14 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
16 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
17 - Juice of 1/2 lime

→ Garnish

18 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
19 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
02 - While pasta cooks, season the chicken breasts on both sides with smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken breasts for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through with internal temperature of 165°F. Transfer to a plate, rest 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add butter and minced garlic; sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
05 - Stir in chopped chipotle peppers and honey. Cook for 1 minute, then add heavy cream, chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Simmer 3 to 4 minutes, stirring, until slightly thickened.
06 - Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and sauce is smooth. Add lime juice.
07 - Toss in drained pasta and sliced chicken, adding reserved pasta water as needed for desired sauce consistency. Cook 1 to 2 minutes until everything is well coated and heated through.
08 - Transfer to serving plates immediately, garnished with chopped cilantro and extra Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce hits every single flavor button—creamy, sweet, smoky, and just the right amount of heat that builds instead of overwhelms
  • Everything cooks in one skillet besides the pasta, meaning fewer dishes and more time to actually enjoy your meal
02 -
  • Chipotle heat varies wildly between brands, so always start with less and taste as you go—I once made a batch so spicy my brother could barely eat it
  • The sauce will thicken as it sits off the heat, so dont panic if it looks thinner than you expected while cooking
03 -
  • Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly into hot sauces without breaking
  • Grate your Parmesan from a wedge instead of buying pre-grated—the texture difference is honestly worth the extra effort
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