Description
This One-Pan Sweet and Smoky Garlic Chicken Pasta is a quick and flavorful dish combining tender chicken breast pieces with a smoky garlic sauce and perfectly cooked linguine. The sweet and savory sauce, enhanced with soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, and smoked paprika, creates a delightful balance that is garnished with sesame seeds and green onions for added texture and freshness. Ready in just 30 minutes, this meal is ideal for a busy weeknight.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Pasta
- 8 oz linguine or spaghetti, cooked and drained
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil, plus more for drizzling
Sauce
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (optional)
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- Chopped green onions (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil the linguine or spaghetti in salted water until al dente. Drain well, then toss with a teaspoon of sesame oil to prevent sticking. Set the pasta aside while you prepare the chicken and sauce.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bite-sized chicken pieces and sear for 2–3 minutes until golden brown on one side. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for another 4–5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside.
- Prepare the Garlic Sauce: Reduce the skillet heat to medium. Push the cooked chicken to one side of the skillet. Add the minced garlic to the empty side and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir together soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, smoked paprika, black pepper, and rice vinegar, then add the mixture to the skillet, stirring to combine with the garlic. Let the sauce simmer for 2–3 minutes to thicken and meld flavors.
- Mix Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta into the skillet with the chicken and sauce. Toss thoroughly to coat all the pasta and chicken evenly. If the mixture seems dry, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce and create a silky texture.
- Finish and Serve: Turn off the heat. Drizzle the sesame oil over the pasta and sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, if using. Serve hot immediately for the best flavor and texture experience.
Notes
- You can substitute linguine with spaghetti or any pasta shape you prefer.
- If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the amount of brown sugar and honey.
- Rice vinegar is optional but adds a nice tang; you can omit it if you don’t have it.
- For more heat, add a pinch of red chili flakes when sautéing the garlic.
- Make sure to not overcook the chicken to maintain its juiciness.
