Description

This honey mustard chicken pasta is a creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet dish featuring tender chicken in a luscious honey mustard sauce, tossed with pasta for a quick and satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil

For the Sauce:

⅓ cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons honey
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup chicken broth
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a bit of heat)
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

For the Pasta:

12 ounces penne, fettuccine, or your pasta of choice
2 tablespoons butter
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Cook the Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente.
Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.

2. Cook the Chicken

Season chicken with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

3. Make the Sauce

In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic until fragrant (about 1 minute).
Stir in Dijon mustard, honey, chicken broth, heavy cream, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a gentle simmer.
Let the sauce cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and well combined.

4. Combine Everything

Add the cooked pasta and chicken back to the skillet, tossing to coat in the sauce.
If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
Cook for another 2 minutes, ensuring everything is well mixed and heated through.

5. Serve and Garnish

Remove from heat and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley.
Serve immediately with extra Parmesan on top if desired.

Notes

Make it lighter: Swap heavy cream for half-and-half or Greek yogurt.
Add veggies: Stir in sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or sun-dried tomatoes.
Use a different protein: Try shrimp, salmon, or tofu instead of chicken.
Make it spicier: Add more red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: honey mustard chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta, Dijon mustard pasta, easy chicken pasta recipe, weeknight dinner idea