• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Brownie Bites Blog
  • Home
  • Food
    • Recipes ->
      • Low Carb and Keto
      • Bars & Barks
      • Beverages
      • Cakes & Pies
      • Candy
      • Cookies & Cupcakes
      • Copycat & Pop Culture
      • Dog Treats
      • Entrees
      • Ice Cream & Frozen
      • Muffins & Breads
      • Starters & Sides
    • Restaurant Tours
    • Party Ideas
    • Tips and Tricks
  • Travel
    • View All
    • California
    • Camping & RV Life
    • Disney ->
      • Bahama Cruise
      • Disney World
      • East Caribbean Cruise
      • West Caribbean Cruise
    • Hawaii
    • Hiking
    • Hotel Tours
    • Japan
    • Seaside Florida
    • Smoky Mountains
    • Washington DC
  • Reviews & Unboxings
    • View All
    • Candy & Sweets
    • Nut Butters
    • Nutrition Bars
    • Snacks
    • Specialty Food
    • Subscription Boxes
  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Reviews
  • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Food » Spicy Chicken Pasta Recipe

    Spicy Chicken Pasta Recipe

    Posted: 01/11/2022 | Last updated: 01/11/2022 by Erin Leave a Comment
    Post may contain affiliate links via Amazon Associates or other programs. (Disclosure)

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe

    Try this easy spicy chicken pasta recipe as a simple dinner idea made totally from scratch and loud with flavor! The use of fresh basil and garlic punctuates the sauce while hearty whole wheat pasta is filling and nutritionally dense.

    A saute pan containing a finished spicy chicken pasta recipe, garnished with additional fresh basil leaves.
    This dish comes together easily.

    Just How Spicy Is This Dish?

    This spicy chicken pasta recipe gets its kick from the addition of red pepper flakes in the sauce. It's amazing how much heat a mere teaspoon can infuse into the finished dish. I'd describe the sauce as moderately spicy when made as the recipe is written, though you can use more or less pepper flakes depending on your personal preferences.

    How Long Does This Take To Prepare?

    First, you'll prepare the sauce base so it can simmer and start filling your kitchen with wonderful smells while you are doing other things like boiling the pasta and pan frying the chicken breasts. From start to finish, you can have dinner on the table in as little as 40 minutes.

    An overhead view of a completed spicy chicken pasta recipe with the saute pan and finished plated dish visible.
    Whole wheat penne is an ideal complex carbohydrate.

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    Refer to full recipe card below for precise ingredient amounts and instructions.

    • Olive oil - used for sauteing the garlic, a base for the sauce, and pan frying the chicken breasts
    • Diced tomatoes and tomato sauce - I used plain versions of both, but you can try the flavored varieties (fire roasted, garlic and olive oil, etc) for a bit of extra punch.
    • Fresh Basil - there's nothing like using fresh herbs in your dinner recipes, and the flavor of the basil really makes itself known here. If you only have dried basil handy, start with 2 heaping tablespoons and adjust as needed to get the flavor you need.
    • Garlic - fresh garlic is cooked until golden in the olive oil to create an aromatic base for your sauce. If you don't have the 6 cloves called for in the recipe, use 1 and ½ teaspoons of garlic powder instead.
    • Red Pepper Flakes - this is where the sauce gets its spice! Add more or less depending on how hot you want to go.
    • Whole Wheat Penne - I love the nutritional profile and toothy nuttiness of whole wheat pasta. You can feel free to use regular or chickpea pasta as well. Other shapes such as rotini will also work well.
    • Chicken Breast - I used 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast. You can use thighs if you prefer, or a mixture of both.
    • Salt, Pepper, and Italian seasoning - used to season the chicken and adjust the flavor balance of the sauce. If you don't have Italian seasoning, use small pinches of ground oregano, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram.
    • Sugar - just a pinch of sugar is helpful for taking the edge off the acidity of the sauce. You won't always need to use this, so at the end of the cooking time give the sauce a taste and add the sugar if needed (make sure to stir it in well and taste again afterwards)
    A spicy chicken pasta recipe prepared and dished out into a bowl, garnished with fresh basil.
    Such a filling dinner.

    Can I Make This In Advance?

    While fresh pasta is always at its best when consumed fresh, you can certainly make this dish ahead of time and reheat it when you're ready to serve. You can reheat in a covered dish in the microwave or you can return it to the stovetop on medium low. If you find you need more liquid when reheating, add a little extra tomato sauce (make sure you taste and re-season as needed)

    Do I Need Any Special Equipment?

    You will need the following to prepare this spicy chicken pasta recipe:

    • A deep saute pan - its wide opening and deep container is ideal for starting the sauce while still having plenty of room to add the pasta and chicken later.
    • A colander - just go ahead and put that puppy in your sink so you can dump in the pasta as soon as its done.
    • A big pot - a big deep pot for boiling the (salted!) water is helpful for making pasta, soups, or stews... you need one in your kitchen!
    • A meat tenderizer - use the smooth side to pound the chicken nice and thin for even and quick cooking.
    • A skillet - a wide stainless skillet is perfect for pan frying the chicken.
    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

    Spicy Chicken Pasta Recipe


    • Author: Erin
    • Total Time: 40 minutes
    • Yield: 6 servings 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    This wholesome and filling dish starts with a flavorful sauce punctuated with fresh basil and garlic with a kick of heat from red pepper flakes.  Add in some seasoned cooked chicken and toothy whole wheat penne and you have a complete meal!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • ¼ cup olive oil + 1 TBS olive oil, divided
    • 6 cloves of garlic, peeled and mined
    • 1 tsp red pepper flakes, or more to taste
    • 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
    • ⅔ cup tomato sauce
    • 1 bunch fresh basil (1 packed cup of leaves), chopped
    • 1 12 ounce package dry whole wheat penne pasta
    • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
    • Salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning
    • Pinch of sugar, optional

    Instructions

    1.  In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil over a medium burner.  Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring a few times until starting to turn golden.  Add the red pepper flakes and cook for an additional minute.
    2. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and basil.  Bring to a low simmer while proceeding with the rest of the recipe, stirring occasionally.
    3. While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Add the penne and boil for about 9 minutes.  Drain in colander.
    4. Place the chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and use the smooth side of a meat tenderizer to pound thin.  Season both sides of the chicken with a few generous shakes of salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
    5. Heat the remaining 1 TBS of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Add the chicken and cook for about 5 minutes on each side or until just done - don't overcook or it will dry out.
    6. Cut chicken into slices and add to the simmering sauce along with the pasta.  Let the sauce simmer on low for an additional 10 minutes or so.  
    7. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.  If the sauce is too acidic for your liking, add the optional pinch of sugar to smooth out the flavor.  
    8. Serve warm and top with Parmesan and/or additional fresh basil or red pepper flakes if desired.

    Notes

    Recommended Equipment

    5 ½ quart stainless saute pan

    Professional heavy duty colander

    Gourmet meat tenderizer

    Large stainless steel skillet

    You can use regular pasta instead of whole wheat.  You can also use chickpea penne.

    You can use chicken thighs instead of breasts or do a mixture of both.

    • Prep Time: 10 mins
    • Cook Time: 30 mins
    • Category: Entree
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Italian

    Keywords: easy dinner, spicy, hot, chicken, pasta

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag @ebrowniebites on Facebook or Instagram

    Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes

    Pin this recipe for later! Use the ready-to-go image below to save this post to your Pinterest boards so that you can find it later. If you want to share this post with your friends, use the buttons at the top and bottom of this post to share on social media. Thank you so much for visiting!

    Overhead view of a pan of a spicy chicken pasta recipe with fresh basil leaves and tomatoes.
    Pin for Later!

    Related posts:

    1. Creamy Chicken Fajita Pasta (with Gluten Free Option)
    2. Thai Chicken Cauliflower Rice Skillet
    3. Chicken And Potato Bake
    4. Magic Chicken and Dumplings Casserole
    « Vegetarian Pizza Rolls
    Dog Birthday Cake Recipe Without Peanut Butter »

    About Erin

    Erin is a mom of two human babies and two fur-covered babies. She loves comfy clothes, eats too much peanut butter, and watches excessive amounts of Netflix. Make her day and toss her a like on Facebook or follow her on Instagram. Post may contain affiliate links including those via the Amazon Associates program

    Reader Interactions

    Say Something About This Post: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar


    Hi, I'm Erin! I love food and I bet you do, too! I cook for my family and share the recipes that we love. We also like to camp, so there will be a fair bit about that around here, too.

    Let's Be Friends

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Recent Recipes

    Disney Trip Reports

    More Disney Posts

    Footer

    ? back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure & Terms
    • Sweepstakes Terms

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up to be notified of new posts

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Foodie Pro on the Foodie Pro Theme