Description
A flavorful and quick Spicy Cajun Honey Butter Chicken & Pasta recipe combining tender chicken pieces seasoned with Cajun spices, coated in a luscious honey butter sauce, and tossed with perfectly cooked pasta. This dish balances savory, sweet, and spicy notes for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz pasta (penne or fettuccine)
Chicken
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional for extra heat)
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside to keep warm.
- Heat Olive Oil: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat to prepare for cooking the chicken.
- Season Chicken: Season the bite-sized chicken pieces evenly with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper to infuse flavor.
- Cook Chicken: Add the seasoned chicken to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Melt Butter and Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, sautéing for about 1 minute until fragrant but not burnt.
- Add Honey: Stir in the honey and cook for another minute to blend the flavors and create the honey butter sauce.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss thoroughly to coat the pieces in the honey butter sauce.
- Add Pasta: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss everything together until well mixed and heated through to evenly distribute the sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the dish with chopped fresh parsley and sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top if desired. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Use penne or fettuccine pasta for best texture and sauce absorption.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to control the spiciness.
- For a richer flavor, use unsalted butter to better control salt levels.
- Fresh garlic provides better aroma, but garlic powder can be substituted if needed.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
