Description

If you’re looking for a quick dinner that delivers maximum flavor with minimum effort, this Sweet & Spicy Garlic Honey BBQ Chicken Pasta is your new go-to. Loaded with bold barbecue flavor, sweet honey notes, and a kick of garlic heat, this easy recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or even impressing guests. It’s everything you want in one dish—comforting, flavorful, and fast. This pasta is a standout among quick dinner ideas, healthy-ish comfort meals, and food ideas for busy families. The sticky-sweet sauce clings to every bite of rotini, while juicy chicken pieces soak up all the smoky, spicy, and sweet magic. Irresistible doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Ingredients

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
8 oz rotini pasta
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup BBQ sauce (thick and smoky)
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes or a dash of hot sauce (optional)
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rotini until al dente, about 8–10 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 6–8 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
In the same skillet, add a little more oil if needed, then sauté garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Stir in BBQ sauce, honey, soy sauce, and optional chili flakes or hot sauce. Simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
Return chicken to the pan and coat well in the sauce. Simmer another 2 minutes.
Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss everything together. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
Turn off heat, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes