Sweet Chili Chicken Pasta (Printable version)

Tender chicken and penne tossed in creamy sweet chili sauce. A vibrant Asian-Italian fusion dish ready in just 35 minutes.

# What you 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 fresh lime juice

→ Garnish

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

# Steps to follow:

01 - Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 5-6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add garlic and red bell pepper. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and slightly softened.
04 - Pour in heavy cream, sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, and lime juice. Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer.
05 - Return cooked chicken to the pan. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
06 - Add cooked pasta and toss to coat. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a splash at a time until desired consistency is reached.
07 - Transfer to serving plates and garnish with spring onions, cilantro, and sesame seeds. Serve hot.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than ordering delivery, and tastes like you spent an hour on it.
  • The sauce clings to every piece of pasta with just the right balance of creamy, tangy, and sweet.
  • You can adjust the heat level easily, making it perfect for picky eaters or spice lovers alike.
  • It uses ingredients you probably already have, with no specialty store trips required.
02 -
  • Don't skip reserving the pasta water, it's the only thing that can loosen a too-thick sauce without diluting the flavor.
  • Let the chicken get a real sear before flipping, moving it too early just steams it instead of browning it.
  • Taste the sauce before adding the pasta, this is your chance to adjust sweetness, heat, or tang to your liking.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for thirty seconds before sprinkling them on top, it makes them nutty and fragrant.
  • If your sweet chili sauce is on the mild side, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce for extra kick.
  • Use kitchen shears to snip the spring onions directly over the dish, it's faster and keeps your cutting board clean.
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