Spicy Chicken Pasta
Spicy Chicken Pasta is a perfect mix of delicious and spicy pasta and hearty chicken loaded with flavor. Quick and easy to make, this dish is perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner, lunch, or a special occasion.
Servings 5 people
Calories 472.4kcal
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 ounces spaghetti pasta or other long cut pasta
Chicken:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or add to taste
- salt and black pepper or add to taste
- 2 chicken breasts at room temp - cut into small cubes
Chicken Pasta:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion finely diced
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon ginger grated
- 4 medium tomatoes finely diced
- 2 tablespoons tomato Paste
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 1 tablespoons fresh Parsley finely diced
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the pasta to a pot of salted boiling water and cook until al dente-about 10 to 12 minutes. Drain and reserve some of the starchy water for later use.
- In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.
- Add the diced chicken into the marinade and coat well with the marinade.
Chicken pasta
- Add the olive oil to a skillet over medium-high heat, and add the diced chicken—Cook for about 5 minutes stirring frequently until the chicken becomes brown on all sides. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In the same pan, add the diced onions and cook for about 3 minutes, then stir in the chili flakes, minced garlic, and ginger. Then add the diced tomatoes and tomato paste and cook for another 5 minutes on medium-low heat.
- Add the chicken stock to deglaze the pan and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
- Stir in the chicken and pasta. Cook till heated through-bout 3 minutes. Thin out with 1 to 3 tablespoons of pasta water if needed.
- Add freshly grated parmesan if desired and garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
- Make it your own by reducing or increasing the cayenne and chili flakes. If you're unsure how spicy you want your pasta to be, add some spice and then taste the sauce. You can always add more if needed.
- Don't overcook the pasta. I'm not fond of mushy and soft pasta; it's okay if it is a bit chewy.
- Once you've cooked your spicy chicken pasta, let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld together, and the sauce slightly thickens.
- Freezing pasta can make it too soft when reheating it. So, storing it in the fridge is fine.
- Make your sauce from scratch to control the spiciness and flavor.
- Overcooked chicken can be tough and dry. Cook the chicken until it's no longer pink in the center but still moist and tender.
Nutrition
Calories: 472.4kcal | Carbohydrates: 59.1g | Protein: 30.2g | Fat: 12.4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7.1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 58.6mg | Sodium: 203.9mg | Potassium: 859.6mg | Fiber: 4.2g | Sugar: 6.3g | Vitamin A: 1352.5IU | Vitamin C: 18.8mg | Calcium: 41.2mg | Iron: 2mg