Description
A delicious and comforting pasta dish featuring al dente rotini tossed in a creamy Parmesan sauce, topped with honey garlic glazed chicken. This recipe balances savory, sweet, and creamy elements for a crowd-pleasing meal perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- Salt, for pasta water
Honey Garlic Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp butter (for cooking chicken mixture)
Parmesan Cream Sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp butter
- Reserved 1/2 cup pasta water (optional for loosening sauce)
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- Extra Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta. Set the pasta aside.
- Cook Chicken: Season the bite-sized chicken pieces with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and sear until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Honey Garlic Sauce: Reduce the skillet heat to medium. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in the same skillet. Add minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in honey and soy sauce and let the mixture simmer for 1 to 2 minutes. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss to coat evenly in the honey garlic sauce. Remove from heat.
- Make Parmesan Cream Sauce: In a clean skillet or saucepan, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Gradually stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, whisking continuously until the sauce is smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, use some of the reserved pasta water to loosen it to desired consistency.
- Toss Pasta with Cream Sauce: Add the cooked rotini pasta to the Parmesan cream sauce and toss to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
- Combine and Serve: Spoon the honey garlic chicken over the creamy pasta or stir the chicken into the pasta for a combined dish. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can substitute rotini with any short pasta like penne or fusilli.
- To make the dish lighter, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream but expect a less rich sauce.
- Reserve pasta water is important to adjust the cream sauce to the perfect consistency.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese works best for smooth melting and flavor.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently to avoid separating the cream sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: honey garlic chicken pasta, creamy Parmesan pasta, rotini pasta recipe, easy chicken pasta, weeknight dinner
