This One Pot Cajun Honey BBQ Chicken Pasta is a sweet, spicy, and savory masterpiece that combines bold Southern flavors with comforting pasta. Tender bites of Cajun-seasoned chicken are tossed with peppers and onions in a sticky, rich sauce made from honey, BBQ sauce, and tomatoes.
Topped with melted cheddar and finished under the grill, this easy meal packs a massive flavor punch in under 30 minutes.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: A mouthwatering collision of smoky BBQ sauce, sweet honey, and spicy Cajun seasoning, balanced by the savory depth of soy sauce and cheddar cheese.
- Texture: Sticky, saucy pasta and tender chicken chunks are studded with soft peppers and onions, all under a blanket of gooey melted cheese.
- Time: 10 minutes prep, 20 minutes cook time.
- Difficulty: Easy. It involves searing chicken, boiling pasta, and making a quick pan sauce.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need a large frying pan or skillet (oven-safe if melting cheese under the grill) and a pot for boiling the pasta. The ingredients rely on pantry staples like BBQ sauce and honey, fresh chicken breast, and a handful of spices to create that signature sweet-heat profile.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Breast – Use 7 oz of diced chicken breast. Seasoning it before cooking ensures the flavor penetrates the meat, not just the sauce.
- Cajun Seasoning – This provides the heat and herbal backbone. You will use it on the chicken and in the sauce.
- Honey & BBQ Sauce – The combination of sweet honey and smoky BBQ sauce creates a sticky glaze that coats the pasta perfectly.
- Green Bell Pepper & Red Onion – Diced finely, these add crunch, color, and aromatic sweetness to the base.
- Chopped Tomatoes – Using 3/4 cup of chopped tomatoes adds acidity and moisture to thin the BBQ glaze into a pasta sauce.
- Pasta – Use 4½ oz of dry pasta (about 1 cup). Short shapes like penne or fusilli work best.
- Cheddar Cheese – Grated mature cheddar adds a sharp, salty finish that complements the BBQ flavors.
- Soy Sauce – A tablespoon adds a deep umami note that balances the sugar in the honey and BBQ sauce.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Spice Level – Adjust the Cajun seasoning or add red pepper flakes if you want more heat. Use a mild BBQ sauce for a kid-friendly version.
- Vegetables – Corn kernels or diced celery would fit right in with the Cajun theme.
How to Make One Pot Cajun Honey BBQ Chicken Pasta
- Season and Sear: Season the diced chicken with 1 tsp of the Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste. Heat a little oil in a frying pan and pan-fry the chicken until almost cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Boil Pasta: While the chicken cooks, pop the pasta into a pot of boiling salted water and cook according to package directions.
- Sauté Veggies: Add the garlic purée to the now-empty frying pan along with the diced onion and green pepper. Sauté for a few minutes until softened.
- Make the Sauce: Add the honey, soy sauce, and BBQ sauce along with the remaining seasonings (Cajun, paprika, oregano) to the frying pan. Stir in the chopped tomatoes.
- Combine: Add the cooked chicken back to the pan (shred it slightly if the pieces are large) and stir to combine with the sauce. Simmer for a minute to thicken.
- Add Pasta: Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the frying pan. Mix well until the pasta is coated in the sticky sauce.
- Melt Cheese: Top the pasta with the grated cheddar cheese. Place the pan under the grill (broiler) for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. (Alternatively, you can cover the pan with a lid on the hob/stovetop to melt the cheese).
- Serve: Garnish with sliced spring onions and dried parsley (optional) and serve immediately.
Pro Tip: If your frying pan isn’t oven-safe, simply transfer the pasta mixture to a baking dish before adding the cheese and grilling, or just use the lid method on the stove to melt the cheese without browning it.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t Overcook Chicken: Since the chicken is cooked twice (seared then simmered), remove it from the pan just before it’s fully done in the first step so it stays juicy.
- Pasta Water: Save a splash of pasta water before draining. If the BBQ sauce gets too thick or sticky, a little pasta water will loosen it up beautifully.
- Cheese Choice: Mature cheddar creates the best flavor contrast against the sweet honey. Mild cheddar might get lost in the bold sauce.
FAQs
- Can I use chicken thighs? Yes, diced chicken thighs work wonderfully and stay moist.
- Is this spicy? It has a kick from the Cajun spices, but the honey and BBQ sauce mellow it out significantly.
- Can I make this in one pot literally? The recipe instructs boiling pasta separately, but you could cook the pasta in the sauce if you added broth, though the texture of the BBQ glaze is better when tossing cooked pasta.
Serving Suggestions
- Cornbread: Serve with a slice of sweet cornbread to sop up the sauce.
- Slaw: A creamy coleslaw on the side adds a cool, crunchy contrast to the warm, spicy pasta.
- Green Beans: Steamed green beans make a simple, healthy side.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Prep: You can dice the chicken and veggies ahead of time.
- Reheating: This pasta reheats well in the microwave or on the stove. If it’s dry, add a splash of water.
One Pot Cajun Honey BBQ Chicken Pasta
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 Generous Servings 1x
Description
This One Pot Cajun Honey BBQ Chicken Pasta is a sweet, spicy, and savory masterpiece that combines bold Southern flavors with comforting pasta. Tender bites of Cajun-seasoned chicken are tossed with peppers and onions in a sticky, rich sauce made from honey, BBQ sauce, and tomatoes. Topped with melted Cheddar and finished under the grill, this easy meal packs a massive flavor punch in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
The Chicken & Seasoning
- 7 oz chicken breast, diced
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (divided use)
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika (divided use)
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano (divided use)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for frying)
The Veggies & Sauce Base
- 4 1/2 oz dry pasta (approx. 1 cup; Penne or Fusilli)
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic purée (or minced fresh garlic)
- 3/4 cup chopped tomatoes (canned or fresh)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
The Cheesy Finish
- 1/3 cup mature Cheddar cheese, grated (approx. 1.5 oz)
- Sliced spring onions (scallions), for garnish
- Dried parsley, for garnish
Instructions
Season & Sear
In a bowl, toss the diced chicken with 1 tsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp oregano, salt, and pepper. Heat oil in a frying pan (oven-safe if possible) over medium-high heat.
Cook
Pan-fry the chicken until almost cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Boil Pasta
While the chicken cooks, add the pasta to a pot of boiling salted water. Cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain (reserve a splash of pasta water just in case).
Sauté Veggies
In the now-empty frying pan, add the diced onion, green bell pepper, and garlic purée. Cook: Sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened.
Make the Sauce
Reduce heat to medium. Add the honey, soy sauce, and BBQ sauce to the pan.
Season
Stir in the remaining 1 tsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp paprika, and 1 tsp oregano.
Simmer
Stir in the chopped tomatoes and let simmer for 1–2 minutes to thicken slightly.
Combine
Add the cooked chicken back to the pan (shred slightly if pieces are large). Add the drained pasta. Toss: Mix well until the pasta and chicken are evenly coated in the sticky glaze.
Melt Cheese
Sprinkle the grated Cheddar cheese over the top.
Grill/Broil
Place the pan under a hot grill (broiler) for 2–3 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Alternative: If your pan isn’t oven-safe, cover with a lid on the stovetop to melt the cheese.
Serve
Garnish with spring onions and parsley. Serve immediately.
Notes
Pan Safety: If you plan to melt the cheese under the broiler, ensure your skillet handle is oven-safe (cast iron or stainless steel). If not, transfer the mixture to a baking dish before the cheese step.
Cheese Choice: Use mature (sharp) Cheddar. The sharpness cuts through the sweetness of the honey and BBQ sauce much better than mild cheese.
Sauce Texture: If the sauce becomes too sticky or thick when you add the pasta, add a tablespoon of the reserved pasta water or chicken broth to loosen it up to a creamy consistency.
Spice Level: The heat comes from the Cajun seasoning. If you want it milder, use a sweet BBQ sauce. For extra heat, add red pepper flakes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner / Pasta
- Method: Stovetop / Broil
- Cuisine: Southern Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 of Recipe
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 1100mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 78g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: cajun chicken pasta, bbq chicken pasta, honey bbq sauce, spicy pasta recipe, 30 minute meals, chicken breast recipes, cheesy pasta bake
