Spicy Cajun Honey Butter Chicken Pasta
A quick and flavorful main dish combining tender chicken, smoky paprika, and cayenne with a rich honey butter and heavy cream sauce, served over chewy fettuccine for a sweet-and-heat-packed meal ready in 25 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Total Time: 35
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
8 oz fettuccine pasta
1 tbsp olive oil
1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 lb yellow onion, cut into wedges
4 green onions, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp honey
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Boil fettuccine pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add chicken breasts and season with cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Cook chicken 5–6 minutes per side until golden and fully cooked. Remove from skillet.
Add onion wedges to the skillet and sauté 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and sauté 1 minute.
Reduce heat to medium, add butter, honey, and heavy cream. Cook 2–3 minutes until sauce thickens.
Return chicken to the skillet, stir in Parmesan cheese, and cook 1–2 minutes to blend flavors.
Toss cooked pasta into the sauce, mix well, and garnish with green onions before serving.
Notes
For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half.
Cajun seasoning can be increased to taste for more heat.
Letting the sauce reduce to a smooth consistency is key for depth of flavor.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently to avoid curdling the sauce.