Honey Chipotle Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Seared chicken and penne tossed in a creamy, sweet-smoky honey chipotle sauce with fresh herbs.

# 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 Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
02 - While pasta cooks, season 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 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through, reaching internal temperature of 165°F. Transfer to a plate and rest for 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 for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened.
06 - Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and sauce is smooth. Add lime juice and adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - Toss drained pasta and sliced chicken into the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve desired consistency. Cook for 1-2 minutes until everything is well coated and heated through.
08 - Serve immediately, garnishing with chopped cilantro and extra Parmesan cheese if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce hits that impossible sweet and smoky spot that keeps you coming back for bite after bite
  • It comes together in 40 minutes but tastes like something from a restaurant that would charge triple
  • The leftovers actually improve overnight as the flavors meld together
02 -
  • Chipotle peppers in adobo vary wildly in heat between brands, so always taste your sauce before adding more
  • The pasta water is essential for rescuing a sauce that has become too thick, so do not dump it down the drain
  • Slice the chicken immediately after resting while it is still warm, or it becomes harder to cut cleanly
03 -
  • Pat your chicken completely dry before seasoning or it will steam instead of sear
  • Grate your Parmesan from a wedge rather than using pre-grated for the smoothest sauce texture
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