Sticky Honey BBQ Chicken Pasta (Print View)

Juicy honey BBQ glazed chicken paired with creamy cheddar macaroni in a comforting skillet dinner.

# Components:

→ Chicken

01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Honey BBQ Sauce

06 - 1/3 cup BBQ sauce
07 - 2 tablespoons honey
08 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
10 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder

→ Pasta & Cheese

11 - 8 ounces elbow macaroni or short pasta
12 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
13 - 1 cup whole milk
14 - 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
15 - 2 tablespoons cream cheese
16 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

→ Garnish

17 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
18 - Fresh parsley, optional

# Directions:

01 - Season chicken pieces evenly with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sauté until lightly browned but not cooked through, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
03 - Whisk together BBQ sauce, honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and garlic powder in a bowl. Pour over chicken, stirring to coat evenly. Simmer for 2 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
04 - Add butter to the same skillet and allow to melt. Pour in pasta, chicken broth, and milk. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most liquid is absorbed, 10 to 12 minutes.
05 - Lower heat to low. Stir in cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and cooked chicken with sauce. Mix until cheese is melted and all components are creamy and well combined.
06 - Garnish with green onions and parsley. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's genuinely a one-skillet situation, so your cleanup is basically nonexistent.
  • That honey-BBQ glaze hits different when it melts into creamy cheddar pasta, trust me.
  • Takes 40 minutes total and tastes like you've been simmering it all day.
  • People will absolutely think you put way more effort in than you actually did.
02 -
  • Don't fully cook the chicken in that first sear—it needs to finish cooking when you add it back to the creamy pasta, otherwise you'll end up with tough, rubbery pieces.
  • The pasta will keep absorbing liquid after you finish cooking, so if you're not eating immediately, save some extra broth on the side to loosen it up when you reheat.
03 -
  • Buy pre-shredded cheese if it saves you time—fresh-shredded is nice but not worth the stress if you're already juggling everything else.
  • That moment when cream cheese first hits the hot pasta looks lumpy and wrong, but keep stirring for 30 seconds and it becomes pure creamy magic.
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