Hey foodies! If you’ve ever craved the sticky chicken pasta from Frankie and Benny’s, you’re going to love this homemade version! I randomly had a craving the other day, so I decided to throw something together and let me tell you, it was absolutely 10/10! This dish has the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and a little kick, making it a new favorite in my kitchen. Plus, it’s super easy to make, and the recipe is perfect for two servings! Let’s get started!
Method
1. Cook the Pasta
Begin by bringing a large pot of water to a boil. Add a generous pinch of salt and the penne pasta. Cook the pasta until it’s al dente, following the package instructions, usually around 8-10 minutes. Once cooked, drain the pasta and be sure to save a small amount of the pasta water (about 50ml). This will help thicken the sauce later on, giving it the right consistency and making it adhere perfectly to the pasta.
2. Prepare the Chicken
While the pasta is cooking, heat the sesame oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic, grated ginger, and chopped chili to the pan. Allow these aromatics to sizzle for a few seconds to release their flavors. Once you can smell the fragrance filling the air, add the sliced chicken breast to the pan along with 1 teaspoon of dark soy sauce. Stir the chicken to ensure it’s evenly coated with the oil and seasoning. Cook for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is browned and cooked through. Afterward, set the chicken aside on a plate.
3. Sauté the Veggies
In the same pan, with the remaining oil and juices from the chicken, add the finely chopped shallots and sliced red pepper. Stir them around and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the shallots are softened and translucent. The peppers should still maintain some bite, but they should be tender and lightly charred. This step adds a wonderful depth of flavor from the chicken drippings that will enrich your sauce.
4. Make the Sauce
In a mixing bowl, combine the ketjap manis (sweet soy sauce), dark soy sauce, freshly squeezed lemon juice, honey, tomato purée, and the crushed garlic cloves. Stir the ingredients until they are fully incorporated. Then, add in the reserved 50ml of pasta water to the mixture. The pasta water helps to loosen up the sauce and create a perfect balance between the flavors while allowing the sauce to coat the pasta more effectively.
5. Combine Everything
Return the cooked chicken to the pan with the sautéed shallots and peppers. Then, add the cooked pasta to the pan, followed by the prepared sauce. Stir everything together thoroughly for about 3-5 minutes. This will allow the sauce to coat every piece of chicken and pasta. As the sauce heats up, it will thicken and become sticky, beautifully binding everything together in a luscious coating. Keep stirring occasionally, ensuring the pasta is well coated and heated through.
6. Top It Off
Once everything is evenly mixed and sticky, it’s time to plate your dish! Transfer the pasta to serving plates and finish it off with a sprinkle of chopped spring onions, sesame seeds, and a little extra chili if you prefer some added heat. The sesame seeds give it a lovely crunch, while the spring onions provide a fresh, sharp contrast to the rich sauce.
Necessary Tools
- Large pot for boiling pasta
- Wok or large pan for cooking
- Knife and chopping board
- Mixing bowl for sauce
Sticky Chicken Pasta Recipe A Flavorful and Easy Meal!
Cuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy2
servings10
minutes20
minutes30
minutesIngredients
200g (dry weight) penne
1/2 tbsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp garlic, ginger, and chilli
2 small shallots, finely chopped
1 small red pepper, cut into strips
300g chicken breast, cut into strips
1 tsp dark soy sauce
Chopped spring onions and sesame seeds for topping
For the Sauce
15ml ketjap manis (sweet soy sauce)
20ml dark soy sauce
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
1/2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp tomato purée
2 crushed garlic cloves
Directions
- Cook the Pasta Start by boiling the penne until it’s al dente. Drain it, but make sure to save a little bit of the pasta water for later it helps to thicken the sauce.
- Prepare the Chicken Heat the sesame oil in a wok or large pan. Add the garlic, ginger, and chili, and let it sizzle for a few seconds. Then, toss in the chicken and add 1 tsp of soy sauce. Stir it around and cook for about 8 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Once done, remove the chicken and set it aside.
- Sauté the Veggies In the same pan, add the chopped shallots and red pepper. Cook until they soften and soak up all the tasty juices from the chicken.
- Make the Sauce In a bowl, mix the ketjap manis, dark soy sauce, lemon juice, honey, tomato purée, and crushed garlic cloves with 50ml of pasta water.
- Combine Everything Add the cooked chicken, pasta, and the sauce mixture to the pan. Stir it all together for a few minutes until the sauce becomes sticky and coats the pasta perfectly!
- Top It Off Sprinkle some chopped spring onions, sesame seeds, and extra chili if you want a bit more heat.
Notes
- Pasta Water Don’t forget to save some pasta water! It’s your secret weapon for making the sauce just the right consistency.
- Cooking the Chicken Make sure the chicken is cooked all the way through before setting it aside. You don’t want to risk any undercooked chicken in your dish.
- Adjusting Spice Levels If you’re sensitive to spice, feel free to reduce the amount of chili or skip the extra chili on top. You can always add more heat if you want!
Serving Suggestions
This sticky chicken pasta is delicious on its own, but if you want to make it a bigger meal, serve it with a side of crispy garlic bread or a fresh mixed salad to balance out the richness of the pasta. You could also pair it with a refreshing cucumber salad or some stir-fried veggies!
Fun Fact
Did you know that ketjap manis is a sweet soy sauce from Indonesia? It’s thick and sweet, giving your dishes that deliciously sticky texture. It’s a key ingredient in many Asian recipes, including this one, and it adds a unique flavor that regular soy sauce just can’t match!
Conclusion
This sticky chicken pasta is a fantastic dish to whip up when you want something flavorful, easy, and quick! Whether you’re in the mood for a cozy dinner or a simple weeknight meal, it’s sure to be a hit. With its perfect balance of savory, sweet, and a bit of spice, you’ll be making this recipe again and again. Enjoy!
