Honey Chipotle Chicken Pasta (Printable Version)

Tender seared chicken with penne in a creamy, sweet-smoky honey chipotle sauce with fresh cilantro. Medium difficulty, 40 minutes.

# What You 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:

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 for sauce consistency adjustment.
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 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 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 to 4 minutes while stirring until slightly thickened.
06 - Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and sauce is smooth. Add lime juice to brighten the sauce.
07 - Toss drained pasta and sliced chicken into the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed for desired consistency. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until everything is well coated and heated through.
08 - Serve immediately, garnished with chopped cilantro and extra Parmesan cheese if desired.

# Cooking Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce hits that perfect sweet and smoky balance that makes you want to lick the plate clean
  • It looks impressive but comes together in under an hour, making it ideal for both dinner parties and weeknight dinners
02 -
  • Room temperature cream prevents the sauce from breaking and becoming grainy, so take it out of the fridge at least thirty minutes before you start cooking
  • The pasta water is your secret weapon for rescuing a too-thick sauce, so never skip reserving some before draining
03 -
  • Use a microplane to grate the garlic so it virtually disappears into the sauce without any harsh chunks
  • If the sauce gets too thick, add pasta water rather than more cream to keep the flavors balanced
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