Creamy spicy chicken pasta is my go-to comfort food for any busy weeknight. This chicken spaghetti recipe is easy to make, creamy, and spicy, and is ready in under 30 minutes with just a handful of ingredients. Perfect for weeknight dinner, lunch, or any special occasion.
I have made this spicy chicken spaghetti recipe many times and it's always a hit with my family and friends. This dish has a moderate spice level, but I've included tips to adjust it to everyone's preferences.
The combination of tender chicken and spaghetti pasta tossed in a creamy tomato sauce infused with Italian herbs and Parmesan is pure comfort food perfection.
This recipe is so easy to customize that you can make it with any shape of pasta, use any seasoning like Cajun seasoning instead of Italian, or add any veggies of your choice like mushrooms, zucchini, or bell peppers. You can also adjust the amount of heat in this spicy chicken pasta dish to your liking. Tips are given in the recipe card notes.
Here's what makes this chicken spaghetti pasta so special
Effortlessly Easy - This chicken spaghetti recipe is quick and easy to make. No fancy equipment, or long hours of simmering required. Just a quick sauté and simmer and your dinner is ready within 30 minutes.
Creamy Deliciousness with Perfect Spicy Kick - The cream added to spicy tomato sauce reduces the heat of this pasta dish and adds comfy smoothness to the sauce.
Hearty and Satisfying Meal - This spicy chicken pasta is made with tomatoes, tender chicken, and al-dente pasta. A well-balanced meal with carbs, protein, and veggies. You can adjust the spices to your liking.
Chicken Spaghetti Ingredients
Pasta - I have used spaghetti pasta for this recipe. You can use any shape of pasta like linguine, fettuccine, penne, or fusilli.
Chicken - Use boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs. You can also use chicken tenderloins. Even you can use leftover grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken. Slice them and add directly to the pasta sauce.
Seasoning - This past with spicy cream sauce is seasoned with garlic powder, pepper, salt, sugar, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes (or chili flakes), and Italian seasoning. Don’t have Italian seasoning; substitute it with Cajun seasoning or fajita seasoning.
Chicken broth - I used low-sodium chicken broth. Substitute it with water and a chicken stock cube for extra flavor. Or simply add pasta water.
Aromatics - Fresh onion and garlic add a lovely aroma to spicy pasta sauce.
Tomatoes - I used tomato passata. Substitute it with fresh tomatoes or canned tomatoes. Blend them and add to the dish.
Parmesan Cheese - This is my favorite cheese and I love to add them to my pasta recipes. You can substitute it with Feta cheese or Cheddar.
Heavy Cream - Heavy cream is the best choice. Substitute with fresh cream or half and half.
Fresh Herbs - Add parsley, basil, or cilantro. They add fresh flavors to chicken spaghetti.
Olive Oil - It adds a lovely flavor to pasta. Substitute with any neutral flavor oil.
For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.
How To Make Spicy Chicken Spaghetti(with Step by Stp Photos)
Cook the spaghetti. Boil water in a vessel. Add salt. Add the uncooked spaghetti (pasta) to the boiling water. Cook the pasta one minute less than the package instructions, reserving about 2 cups of the starchy pasta water just before draining.
Prep the chicken - Slice the chicken breasts lengthwise or pound them to even thickness. Season the chicken with pepper, paprika, garlic powder, salt and oil.
Pan-sear the chicken - Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Once the oil shimmers, carefully add the chicken pieces (avoid overcrowding the pan if needed). Pan-sear for 3-5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, making the chicken more tender and flavorful. Finally, slice the chicken and set them aside.
Make the sauce - To the same pan, add 1 teaspoon oil. Add onions, and sauté until its edges start to become golden. Add garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Sauté them for 30 seconds. Now add ½ cup chicken broth to deglaze the pan. Stir and gently scrape tiny bits sticking to the base of the skillet. Add tomato passata, and season with pepper, salt, and sugar. Stir and cook it for 5 minutes. Lower the heat and simmer for another 5 minutes or until the pasta sauce reduces. Add heavy cream and stir to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Creamy spicy pasta sauce is ready.
Combine the pasta and chicken with the sauce - Add the sliced chicken and cooked spaghetti. Toss to combine. If the pasta looks dry add ¼ cup of reserved pasta water and toss. Add more pasta water as required. Finally, add parmesan and parsley. Give everything a quick toss. Serve chicken pasta immediately. Garnish with more parmesan and parsley.
Tips To Make Best Chicken Spaghetti
Cook the pasta one minute less than the time mentioned on the package to avoid mushy pasta. Since it will finish cooking in the sauce, overcooking it now would lead to a soggy texture.
If you marinated the chicken and kept in the refrigerator. Take it out and let it rest on the counter until it reaches room temperature. This ensures even cooking and juicy results when it hits the pan.
While pan-searing the chicken, do not overcrowd the pan. There should be enough space between the chicken slices otherwise they will steam cook rather than get a golden sear. If required fry the chicken in two batches.
You can adjust the spiciness of the dish as per your taste. If you do not prefer spicy chicken pasta reduce the quantity of black pepper, red pepper flakes, and paprika in this recipe. Increase the quantity of heavy cream to reduce the heat of the dish. Want to make chicken spaghetti spicier, add a dash of cayenne pepper.
Double the quantity of cream in the recipe for that extra creamy sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
How spicy is this chicken pasta?
This is a medium spicy dish but it depends on your spice tolerance. If you are a spice lover, you will love this dish. If you prefer less heat, reduce the quantity of black pepper, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Taste the sauce after adding cream to it. If it is spicy to taste, add more cream. If it is less spicy add a dash of cayenne pepper.
What can I serve with this spicy chicken spaghetti?
This dish is hearty enough to be served on its own, but you can also add a side salad, garlic bread, or grilled vegetables.
What are some variations of this spicy chicken pasta recipe?
You can experiment with different seasonings, instead of using Italian seasoning substitute it with Cajun seasoning or fajita seasoning. Make it with shrimp instead of chicken. Add different types of cheese, such as mozzarella, ricotta, or feta. You can even add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for a brighter flavor. Make it with any other pasta like penne or fusilli.
Storing and Reheating Leftover Chicken Spaghetti
To Store - Leftover spicy chicken pasta should be stored within 2 hours of cooking. Transfer them to an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator. It stays good for 2 days.
To reheat leftovers - Add a splash of water or broth to a microwave-safe dish or pan on the stovetop. Heat in short bursts (aim for around 30-second intervals) in the microwave or low heat on the stovetop, stirring frequently, until the chicken pasta reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). This ensures safe and even heating while preventing overcooking.
Pro Tip - Always check for any signs of spoilage before reheating the leftovers. Check out for any black spots, bad smell, bad taste, etc. in the dish, if there are any discard them immediately.
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Spicy Chicken Spaghetti
This creamy spicy chicken spaghetti pasta is my go to comfort food for any busy weeknight. This chicken spaghetti recipe is easy to make, creamy, and spicy and is ready in under 30 minutes with just a handful of ingredients. Perfect for weeknight dinner, lunch or any special occasions.
½teaspoonfreshly ground black pepperadd as per taste
½teaspoonsmoked paprika(or use regular paprika)
½teaspoongarlic powder
salt to taste
2teaspoonolive oil
To cook spicy chicken pasta
4teaspoonolive oil, divided
1small onion, chopped
1.5teaspoonfinely chopped or minced garlic
1tablespoonItalian seasoning(or just add 1 teaspoon oregano and 1 teaspoon basil), or try any other seasoning like cajun seasoning
1teaspoonred pepper flakesadd as per taste, reduce to ½ teaspoon for the less spicy dish
½cuplow sodium chicken broth
1cuptomato passata Substitute - 1 cup fresh tomato puree in a blender or canned tomatoes
½teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
salt to taste
½teaspoonsugar (optional)
100mlheavy creamadd more if you prefer extra creamy pasta
¼cupgrated Parmesan cheese
2tablespoonfinely chopped Parsley or cilantro
Instructions
Cook the pasta - Boil water in a vessel. Add salt. Add the uncooked spaghetti (pasta) to the boiling water. Cook the pasta one minute less than the package instructions, reserving about 2 cups of the starchy pasta water just before draining.
Prep the chicken - Slice the chicken breasts lengthwise or pound them to even thickness. Season the chicken with pepper, paprika, garlic powder, salt and oil.
Pan-sear the chicken - Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Once the oil shimmers, carefully add the chicken pieces (avoid overcrowding the pan if needed). Pan-sear for 3-5 minutes each side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, making the chicken more tender and flavorful. Finally, slice the chicken and set them aside.
Make the sauce - To the same pan, add 1 teaspoon oil. Add onions, sauté until its edges start tobecome golden. Add garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Sauté them for 30 seconds. Now add ½ cup chicken broth to deglaze the pan. Stir and gently scrape tiny bits sticking to the base of the skillet. Add tomato passata, season with pepper, salt and sugar. Stir and cook it for 5 minutes. Lower the heat and simmer for another 5 minutes or until the pasta sauce reduces. Add heavy cream and stir to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Creamy spicy pasta sauce is ready.
Combine the pasta and chicken to the sauce - Add the sliced chicken and cooked spaghetti. Toss to combine. If the pasta looks dry add ¼ cup of reserved pasta water and toss. Add more pasta water as required. Finally add parmesan and parsley. Give everything a quick toss. Serve spicy chicken pasta immediately. Garnish with more parmesan and parsley.
Video
Notes
Cook the pasta one minute less than the time mentioned on the package to avoid mushy pasta. Since it will finish cooking in the sauce, overcooking it now would lead to a soggy texture.
If you marinated the chicken and kept in the refrigerator. Take it out and let it rest on the counter until it reaches room temperature. This ensures even cooking and juicy results when it hits the pan.
While pan-searing the chicken, do not overcrowd the pan. There should be enough space between the chicken slices otherwise they will steam cook rather than get a golden sear. If required fry the chicken in two batches.
You can adjust the spiciness of the dish as per your taste. If you do not prefer spicy dishes reduce the quantity of black pepper, red pepper flakes, and paprika in this recipe. Increase the quantity of heavy cream to reduce the heat of the dish. Want to make it spicier, add a dash of cayenne pepper.
Double the quantity of cream in the recipe for that extra creamy sauce.
My family loved this chicken dish. I cut up the chicken breasts before putting them in the slow cooker so it didn't need to cook as long. I tried the variation and added the pinto beans so it was enough for us to eat for 2 nights. Yummy!
1
I will try.
Dani
My family loved this chicken dish. I cut up the chicken breasts before putting them in the slow cooker so it didn't need to cook as long. I tried the variation and added the pinto beans so it was enough for us to eat for 2 nights. Yummy!