Spicy Chicken Pasta

This Spicy Chicken Pasta is the perfect level of spice, whilst absolutely bursting with flavour. It’s easy, creamy, hearty and delicious!

The BEST Spicy Chicken Pasta Recipe!

Yep, you heard it here first 😂 Chicken, spice and pasta is one of the most delicious combos of all time. It’s also mainly responsible for 90% of my food comas. Delicious food comas none the less.

This recipe is actually a recent obsession of mine and quite frankly I can’t get enough of it. Here’s why I think you’ll love it as much as I do:

• Flavoursome – This pasta is more than just spicy, it’s got a gorgeous complex flavour.
• Creamy/Tomatoey – You should never have to choose between a tomato pasta or a creamy pasta, this is the best of both worlds and it works SO well!
• Date Night Dinner – This recipe is based on 2 servings, perfect for a cosy night in. It’s easily doubled for a family!

It’s also easy and relatively quick to make! Follow me…

Spicy Chicken Breast

The spicy chicken is the heart and soul of this dish, so it’s important to make it shine. Nothing worse than bland chewy chicken in any context, let alone in your pasta 😩

Flavour

To ensure it’s bursting with flavour, we’ll first coat it in a mix of olive oil, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper and s&p. This give the chicken itself a nice kick of spice and a gentle wiff of smokiness too.

Tenderness

Equally as important. Here some tips to avoid chewy chicken:

• Bring the chicken to room temp before you fry it (cold chicken seizes up).
• Butterfly to make two thinner breasts (cooks quicker and more evenly).
• Allow to rest after cooking (retains more juices)
• Slice at an angle and against the natural grain of the chicken (soft chicken strips instead of large and chewy)

How to make Spicy Chicken Breast (quick summary)

1. Take one chicken breast.
2. Butterfly.
3. Add spicy marinade.
4. Rub into meat.
5. Fry until nicely charred.
6. Flip, fry then remove.

Creamy Spicy Chicken Pasta

Cream and spice is such an underrated combo, especially in this context. The cream not only adds richness, but also helps the spice not get too all up in your face.

How to make Spicy Creamy Chicken Pasta (quick summary)

1. Fry off onion, garlic and chilli flakes in butter.
2. Add sun dried tomatoes, then reduce down white wine.
3. Fry tomato puree.
4. Deglaze with chicken stock, then pour in cream.
5. Add pasta.
6. Toss through parmesan, parsley and chicken.

How Spicy is ‘Spicy’?

It’s a really tricky one to judge as everyone’s spice thresholds are different. It’s definitely spicy, the kind that makes your lips tingle, but not so overpowering you can’t taste the other flavours. For those of you who like spice I’d say it’s a medium spice. If you’re at all wary just reduce the amount of chilli flakes and adjust at the end.

What to serve with Spicy Chicken Pasta?

Garlic Bread is always a winner with pasta. If you want to take it one step further then check out my Cheesy Pesto Garlic Bread and Caprese Pull Apart Bread!

This dish is the perfect dinner for two, so do check out my other Date Night Dinners if you fancy! Also, whilst you’re here I’ve got a sneaky suspicion you might like these too:

Spicy Chicken Pasta Recipes

• Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
• Cajun Chicken Pasta
• Chicken and Chorizo Pasta

Chicken Pasta Recipes

• Chicken and Mushroom Pasta
• Chicken Bacon and Ranch Pasta Salad
• Chicken Avocado Pasta
• Chicken Broccoli Pasta

Spicy Pasta Recipes

• Penne Arrabiatta with Smoked Sausage
• Spicy Bacon Mac and Cheese
• Spicy Rigatoni
• Sausage Harissa Pasta

Alrighty, let’s tuck into this Spicy Chicken Pasta recipe shall we?!

How to make Spicy Chicken Pasta (Full Recipe & Video)

5 from 46 votes

Spicy Chicken Pasta

By: Chris Collins

This Spicy Chicken Pasta is the perfect level of spice, whilst absolutely bursting with flavour. It's easy, creamy, hearty and delicious!

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 25 minutes mins

Total: 40 minutes mins

Servings: 2

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Equipment

• Large Pan & Wooden Spoon
• Large Pot & Pasta Tongs
• Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
• Fine Cheese Grater
• Small Pot/Bowl (for chicken marinade)

Ingredients 

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Chicken

• ▢ 1x 9oz/250g Chicken Breast, brought close to room temp
• ▢ 2 tsp Olive Oil
• ▢ 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
• ▢ 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
• ▢ 1/4 tsp Salt
• ▢ 1/4 tsp Black Pepper

Pasta

• ▢ 7oz / 200g Linguine (or other long cut pasta)
• ▢ 2/3 cup / 160ml Heavy/Double Cream
• ▢ 1/3 cup / 80ml Chicken Stock
• ▢ 1/4 cup / 60ml Dry White Wine (see notes)
• ▢ 1oz / 30g Parmesan, finely grated
• ▢ 6x Sun Dried Tomatoes, finely diced (~2oz/60g)
• ▢ 2 tbsp Tomato Puree (tomato paste in US)
• ▢ 1 tbsp Butter
• ▢ 1 tbsp finely diced Fresh Parsley
• ▢ 1 small Onion, finely diced
• ▢ 1 tsp finely diced Garlic (approx 1 large clove)
• ▢ 1/2 tsp Chilli Flakes
• ▢ Salt & Pepper, to taste

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions 

• In a small bowl, combine 2 tsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika & cayenne pepper and 1/4 tsp salt & black pepper.
• Butterfly the chicken breast right the way through to make 2 even-sized breasts. Coat in the spicy marinade.
• Place in a large pan over medium-high heat and fry for a few minutes on each side, or until lightly charred and just cooked through the centre (depending on thickness may take more or less time). Place to one side and when ready, slice into thin strips, ensuring you slice against the natural grain of the chicken and at a slight angle.
• Turn the heat down to medium and melt in 1 tbsp butter, scraping off any flavour in the pan with your wooden spoon. Add the onion and fry until it begins to soften and pick up colour. Add 1 tsp garlic and fry for another minute longer, then add 1/2 tsp chilli flakes. Fry for 1 minute, then add sun-dried tomatoes. Fry for another minute just to soften them, then pour in 1/4cup/60ml dry white wine. Allow the wine to completely reduce (important to burn off the alcohol, should take 3-4 minutes or so).
• Meanwhile, add 7oz/200g pasta to salted boiling water and cook until al dente.
• Add 2 tbsp tomato puree to the pan. Fry for 2 minutes (important to sweeten the taste) then deglaze the pan with 1/3cup/80ml chicken stock. Pour in 2/3cup/160ml heavy/double cream and season to taste with salt & pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer then lower the heat.
• Use tongs to transfer the cooked pasta straight from the pot into the pan and toss to combine. Add 1oz/30g freshly grated parmesan, 1 tbsp fresh parsley and the chicken strips (alongside any resting juices). Continue tossing, adding leftover starchy pasta water from the pot to thin out the sauce as needed.

Video

Notes

a) How spicy is 'spicy'? - It's really difficult to measure this, as it's so subjective. It's got a definite kick, the kind that makes your tongue tingle. The heat is definitely there, but it doesn't overpower the other flavours. If you like spice, I'd put this at a medium. But again, very difficult to say. If you're at all wary, start off with less chilli flakes and adjust at the end.

b) White Wine - Firstly, just make sure it's a dry wine, not sweet. Secondly, I do recommend adding it. It's not a lot, but it does add a nice background flavour and cuts through the richness of the sauce. The alcohol will burn off, but if for whatever reason you don't want to use it just sub with more chicken stock. 

c) Date Night Dinner - This recipe serves two portions. You can add a side if you'd like - I recommend either Roasted Garlic Bread or Cheese Pesto Garlic Bread! If you're feeding a family just use the slider to adjust the measurements (just consider starting off with less spice just in case!).

d) Salmon - For the sister recipe to this dish check out my Spicy Salmon Pasta!

e) Calories - shared between two with no extra parmesan or sides.

Your Private Notes:

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Nutrition

Calories: 766kcal | Carbohydrates: 43.47g | Protein: 39.47g | Fat: 46.73g | Saturated Fat: 24.588g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.026g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15.283g | Trans Fat: 0.135g | Cholesterol: 221mg | Sodium: 746mg | Potassium: 970mg | Fiber: 6.9g | Sugar: 7.78g | Vitamin A: 2296IU | Vitamin C: 10.5mg | Calcium: 214mg | Iron: 2.31mg

Looking for more?

You’ll find plenty more delicious comfort food like this in my Debut Cookbook ‘Comfy’

If you loved this Spicy Chicken Pasta Recipe then be sure to pin it for later! Already made them or got a question? Give me a shout in the comments below and pick up your free ecookbook along the way!