Description
Looking for a bold, satisfying meal that combines sweet, spicy, and savory flavors? Spicy Cajun Honey Butter Chicken & Pasta delivers big-time flavor with minimal effort. Perfect for a quick dinner, this easy recipe features golden-seared Cajun chicken bites tossed in a rich honey butter sauce and served over pasta. It’s ideal when you need dinner ideas that impress without the stress. Whether you’re cooking for the family or meal prepping for the week, this dish checks all the boxes for easy comfort food, weeknight meals, and flavor-packed food ideas.
Ingredients
1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup honey
3 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Juice of ½ lemon
Pinch of red pepper flakes
10–12 oz fettuccine or linguine
Salt for pasta water
1 tablespoon butter
Reserved pasta water as needed
Chopped fresh parsley or chives (optional)
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
1. Pat chicken dry, cut into cubes, and season with Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
2. Boil a pot of salted water and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain and toss with 1 tablespoon butter.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Sear chicken in a single layer for 5–7 minutes until golden and fully cooked. Set aside.
4. In the same skillet, reduce heat and melt butter. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
5. Stir in honey, hot sauce, soy sauce, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until thickened.
6. Return chicken to the skillet and toss in the sauce. Cook together for another 2–3 minutes.
7. Add pasta to the skillet and toss everything together. Use reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
8. Garnish with parsley or Parmesan if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
Let the chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking to retain its juiciness.
Don’t skip reserving pasta water — it’s key for creating a silky sauce that clings to the pasta.
Add cream or cream cheese at the end if you want a creamy version of this dish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: easy dinner, Cajun pasta, spicy chicken, honey butter chicken, weeknight meals