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spicy chicken pasta dish with basil leaves on top.
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5 from 2 votes

Spicy Chicken Pasta

This creamy spicy chicken pasta is full of flavor and heat from red pepper flakes and hot sauce but mellowed out with a rich cream sauce.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Additional Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Pasta
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 564kcal

Ingredients

Spicy chicken marinade

  • 1 lb. chicken breasts
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 tbsp. hot sauce
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • ½ tsp. salt.
  • ½ tsp. black pepper

Pasta Sauce

  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • ½ lb. linguine pasta or shape of choice
  • ¼ cup sliced sundried tomatoes
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup chicken stock
  • 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • ½ small onion or 1 large shallot (diced)
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tbsp. tomato paste
  • ¼ cup fresh basil
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine oil, hot sauce, paprika, italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
  • Cut chicken breasts into 1-2 inch pieces and place in a bowl. Pour spicy marinade over top and stir to coat. Place in the fridge for approximately 30 minutes.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 1 tbsp. of butter. Add chicken pieces and pan fry until cooked through. Place cooked chicken on a plate to the side. 
  • While preparing the sauce, cook pasta according to packaging instructions, remembering to reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the noodles. 
  • To the same skillet you cooked the chicken in, add remaining 1 tbsp. of butter. Add diced onions, minced garlic, and sundried tomatoes. Cook until fragrant, approximately 2-3 minutes.
  • Add tomato paste to the pan and stir to caramelize, around 1-2 minutes.
  • Deglaze pan with chicken stock and simmer for 2 minutes.
  • Add heavy cream, along with parmesan, chopped basil, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 1 minute until the sauce comes together.
  • Add cooked pasta and cooked chicken pieces to the pan and stir to bring everything together. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of pasta water a little at a time to thin out the dish.

Notes

Reserve at least 1 cup of pasta water before draining, to ensure you have enough when making the cream sauce.
Dial down on the red pepper flakes or omit entirely if you want less heat in this dish.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 564kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 152mg | Sodium: 598mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g