Sweet Chili Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Tender chicken and pasta in a creamy sweet chili sauce balancing heat and sweetness. A quick, flavorful fusion meal for four.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or fusilli pasta
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Chicken

03 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz), cut into bite-sized pieces
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Sauce

06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
08 - 1 cup heavy cream
09 - 1/3 cup sweet chili sauce
10 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
11 - 1 tablespoon lime juice

→ Garnish

12 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
13 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
14 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water. Set pasta aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate.
03 - In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sliced red bell pepper. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and slightly softened.
04 - Pour heavy cream, sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, and lime juice into the skillet. Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer.
05 - Return cooked chicken to the pan and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
06 - Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water as needed to achieve desired consistency.
07 - Transfer to serving plates and garnish with spring onions, cilantro, and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It brings restaurant flavor to your weeknight table without fancy techniques or hard to find ingredients.
  • The creamy sweet chili sauce is addictive, with just enough heat to keep things interesting without overwhelming anyone.
  • You can have dinner on the table in 35 minutes, and it tastes like you spent twice that long.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully, making lunch the next day something to actually look forward to.
02 -
  • Do not skip reserving that pasta water, it contains starch that helps the sauce cling instead of sliding off into a puddle at the bottom of the bowl.
  • If your sweet chili sauce is on the mild side, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of sriracha to bring the heat up to your liking.
  • Let the chicken rest in the sauce for a few minutes instead of tossing it in immediately, it makes a noticeable difference in how juicy and flavorful each piece turns out.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for thirty seconds before sprinkling them on top, it brings out a deeper nutty flavor that makes a surprising difference.
  • If you love extra garlic, double the amount and add half at the beginning and half at the end for layers of garlicky goodness.
  • Taste the sauce before tossing in the pasta and adjust the lime juice or soy sauce to your preference, everyone has a different sweet to salty to tangy balance they love.
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