Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Tender chicken in glossy honey garlic sauce over creamy Parmesan pasta, ready in 35 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb), pounded to even thickness
02 - 1 teaspoon paprika
03 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
05 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

→ Honey Garlic Sauce & Pasta

06 - ⅓ cup honey
07 - ¼ cup soy sauce
08 - 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
09 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
10 - ½ teaspoon garlic salt
11 - ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
12 - 2 cups chicken broth
13 - ½ cup heavy whipping cream
14 - 8 ounces spaghetti, uncooked
15 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
16 - 2 tablespoons water
17 - ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

→ Garnish

18 - Chopped fresh parsley
19 - Extra red pepper flakes

# How to Cook:

01 - Season the chicken breasts evenly with paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the seasoned chicken breasts.
03 - Cook for 5 minutes on one side. Flip, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook another 5-7 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
04 - Remove chicken from skillet and tent with foil to keep warm.
05 - In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, garlic salt, and red pepper flakes.
06 - In the same skillet over medium-high heat, pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle boil.
07 - Add uncooked spaghetti, fanning it out or breaking in half so it lays flat. Stir with tongs to coat and submerge.
08 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most liquid is absorbed.
09 - In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch with water to create a slurry.
10 - Pour the honey garlic sauce over pasta. Stir well, then immediately add cornstarch slurry. Simmer uncovered for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until sauce thickens.
11 - Remove from heat and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
12 - Slice the cooked chicken and arrange on top of the pasta.
13 - Garnish with chopped parsley and extra red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce clings to every strand of pasta like a glossy, flavorful hug that keeps you coming back for bite after bite
  • Everything cooks in one pan, meaning less cleanup and more time to actually enjoy your meal instead of scrubbing dishes
  • The balance of sweet honey, savory garlic, and just enough heat makes it impossible not to smile while eating
02 -
  • The pasta will continue absorbing liquid even after you remove it from heat, so if the sauce looks a little too thick, splash in another tablespoon of broth
  • Your honey garlic sauce can quickly go from perfect to way too thick if you overdo the cornstarch, start with less and add more only if needed
  • The red pepper flakes bloom in hot liquid, so that gentle heat at the beginning will mellow slightly as everything simmers together
03 -
  • Rotisserie chicken works beautifully here if you want to skip the searing step, just shred it and add it when you stir in the sauce
  • Make a double batch of the honey garlic mixture and keep it in the fridge for quick weeknight meals
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