Spicy, creamy, and packed with flavor, this Spicy Chicken Pasta is an easy one-pot-style dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes. Tender chicken thighs simmer in a creamy tomato sauce with harissa, smoked paprika, garlic, and chili flakes before being tossed with pasta and Parmesan.
It is hearty, filling, and the kind of dinner that makes everyone suddenly very interested in what is happening in the kitchen.
The creamy tomato sauce is rich without being too heavy, and the harissa gives it a smoky, spicy kick that makes every bite interesting. If you love easy pasta dinners, you may also enjoy Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta.
What Is Spicy Chicken Pasta?
Spicy Chicken Pasta is a creamy pasta dish made with chicken thighs, tomatoes, heavy cream, Parmesan, and spicy seasonings. In this version, harissa paste, smoked paprika, and crushed chili flakes create a warm, smoky heat while the cream softens the sauce.
This creamy spicy chicken pasta is ready in under 30 minutes, making it a great choice for an easy weeknight pasta dinner.
Jump to:
- What Is Spicy Chicken Pasta?
- Why You’re Going to Love This Recipe
- Ingredients
- Key Ingredients
- Step By Step Instructions
- How to Get the Best Creamy Pasta Sauce
- A Few Things That Can Ruin a Great Chicken Pasta
- Variations and Substitutions
- How Spicy Is Spicy Chicken Pasta?
- What to Serve With Spicy Chicken Pasta
- Expert Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Storage, Reheating, and Make-Ahead Instructions
- Spicy Chicken Pasta Final Thoughts
- Recipe
- 💬 Comments
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Why You’re Going to Love This Recipe
- It is ultra easy to make, even though it may seem like there are a lot of steps below (don't worry, it's easy!).
- Chicken thighs stay tender and juicy.
- Harissa adds a bold, smoky flavor.
- The creamy tomato sauce clings beautifully to the pasta.
- It uses one skillet for the chicken and sauce.
- It is easy to adjust for a milder or spicier dinner.
- Leftovers reheat well with a splash of cream or chicken stock.
- The recipe is forgiving, so you can make substitutions and it will still come out great (scroll down to see some substitution ideas).
And honestly, the sauce is the real star here. It is creamy, tomatoey, slightly smoky, and just spicy enough to keep you going back for another forkful.
Ingredients
The full list of ingredients and amounts is included in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- ½ pound chicken thighs boneless skinless
- ½ teaspoon salt for chicken, plus ½ teaspoon for sauce
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ¼ onion minced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1-15 ounce can diced tomatoes drained
- ½ teaspoon crushed chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons harissa paste
- â…“ cup chicken stock
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces penne cooked and drained to package instructions (reserve ¼ cup pasta cooking water)
Key Ingredients
- Chicken Thighs - Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are my favorite choice here because they stay tender and juicy while simmering in the sauce. Chicken breast can be used, but thighs are much more forgiving.
- Harissa Paste - Harissa is a North African chili paste made with roasted peppers, hot chili peppers, garlic, and spices. It adds heat, smokiness, and a deep savory flavor to this harissa chicken pasta.
- Smoked Paprika and Chili Flakes - These give the sauce its spicy, smoky personality. You can adjust the amount depending on how much heat you like.
- Heavy Cream - Heavy cream turns the tomato and harissa mixture into a smooth, rich sauce that coats every piece of penne.
- Parmesan Cheese - Parmesan adds nutty, salty, umami flavor right at the end. It also helps bring the sauce together.
Step By Step Instructions
Step1: Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
Step2: Heat a large high sided skillet over medium heat and add the butter.
Step3: Brown the chicken thighs for 2-3 minutes per side. Remove and let cool.
Step4: Slice the chicken in strips (or pieces) and set aside. **It's ok if it's not fully cooked at this point.
Step5: Add the garlic and onion to the skillet and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
Step6: Add the tomatoes, paprika, chili flakes, salt and harissa and stir to combine.
Step7: Add the stock and chicken pieces and simmer for 1-2 minutes.
Step8: Add the cream and simmer for 5-7 minutes, until the sauce is thickened and chicken is cooked through.
Step9: Stir in the cooked pasta and parmesan cheese. Add 1 tablespoon of reserved pasta water at a time if the sauce is too thin.
Serve it with air fryer garlic bread, pesto challah and a spinach salad.
How to Get the Best Creamy Pasta Sauce
Cook the pasta just until tender, then reserve some of the cooking water before draining it. That starchy water can help loosen the sauce and make it cling to the pasta instead of sitting at the bottom of the skillet.
Add the pasta to the sauce while everything is still warm. Toss well so the penne gets coated in the creamy tomato sauce.
If the sauce becomes too thick, add the reserved pasta water one tablespoon at a time. A little goes a long way.
A Few Things That Can Ruin a Great Chicken Pasta
- Do not fully cook the chicken during the initial browning step. It will finish cooking in the sauce.
- Avoid letting the garlic burn. Burnt garlic can make the entire sauce taste bitter.
- Drain the diced tomatoes so the sauce does not become watery.
- Do not add all the pasta water at once.
- Taste before adding extra salt because the Parmesan, chicken stock, and harissa may already provide plenty.
- Adjust the spice gradually. You can always add more, but you cannot easily take it back out.
Variations and Substitutions
This is a forgiving easy chicken pasta recipe, so there is plenty of room to make it your own.
- Use chicken breast instead of chicken thighs.
- Add some crumbled bacon in. Make this sous vide bacon for total melt-in-your-mouth crumble-able bacon.
- Replace the penne with tortellini, ravioli, or another pasta shape.
- Add cooked shrimp or sausage with the chicken.
- Stir in spinach or kale at the end.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes for extra richness.
- Add diced bell peppers, green beans, or zucchini.
- Stir in 1–2 tablespoons of cream cheese for extra creaminess and a little tang.
- Sprinkle blue cheese over the finished pasta for a sharper flavor.
- Use coconut cream instead of heavy cream if preferred.
How Spicy Is Spicy Chicken Pasta?
I would describe this recipe as mild to medium spicy, although that depends on your spice tolerance. Harissa can vary quite a bit from brand to brand, so start with the listed amount and adjust from there.
For a milder version, reduce the harissa, smoked paprika, and crushed chili flakes. For a spicier pasta recipe, add a little more harissa or chili flakes.
If your family is sensitive to spice, serve extra Parmesan and a little cream on the side. They will help soften the heat.
What to Serve With Spicy Chicken Pasta
This creamy chicken pasta is rich and filling, so I like serving it with something fresh or crisp.
- Air Fryer Garlic Bread is perfect for soaking up the extra sauce.
- Strawberry Spinach Salad adds a fresh, simple contrast.
- Honey Roasted Parsnips bring a little sweetness to balance the spicy tomato sauce.
A glass of something cold and a big bowl of pasta make a pretty convincing weeknight dinner.
Expert Tips
- Add more or less harissa paste, crushed red pepper, and/or paprika to make the dish more or less spicy. You may need to adjust the salt to taste.
- Use any type of pasta you prefer. Cook it in salted water before adding it to the dish.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of cream cheese to the sauce to make it more creamy and give it a little tang.
- Add cooked shrimp or sausage when you add the chicken back in to the dish.
- Use chicken thighs for the juiciest result.
- Reserve pasta water before draining the pasta.
- If the sauce is too thick, loosen it with a little chicken stock, cream, or reserved pasta water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Reduce the harissa and crushed chili flakes. You can also reduce the smoked paprika if you prefer a very mild sauce.
Serve Cajun pasta with a slice of crusty bread, air fryer garlic bread and a side salad. Also, roasted vegetables like honey roasted parsnips, roasted frozen broccoli, grilled squash or spicy braised green beans are also very good.
To flavor pasta while cooking it, make sure to add plenty of salt to the cooking water, The water should taste a little like the sea.
Pasta can be cooked in many different types of sauces using fresh herbs, tomatoes, cream, olive oil, garlic, seafood, chicken, meat and spices. All these add-ins give pasta and it's sauce added flavor.
Yes. Chicken breast works, but chicken thighs are more tender and forgiving, especially when reheating leftovers.
The sauce combines diced tomatoes, heavy cream, harissa, smoked paprika, and chili flakes. The cream creates the richness while the harissa and spices provide the heat.
Penne works especially well because the sauce gets caught inside the tubes. Tortellini, ravioli, rigatoni, or another short pasta can also work.
Absolutely. Spinach, kale, zucchini, bell peppers, and green beans are all good options. Sauté vegetables that release a lot of moisture before adding them to the sauce.
Storage, Reheating, and Make-Ahead Instructions
Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet over low heat. Add a splash of chicken stock or cream if the sauce has thickened too much.
Freezing is not recommended because the pasta can become soft and fall apart. If you need to freeze it, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently.
This recipe is best made fresh, but the sauce can be prepared ahead of time and combined with freshly cooked pasta when ready to serve.
Spicy Chicken Pasta Final Thoughts
This Spicy Chicken Pasta is exactly the kind of dinner I want on a busy night: creamy, saucy, spicy, and comforting without requiring a lot of effort.
The tender chicken, smoky harissa, rich tomato cream sauce, and Parmesan make every bite satisfying. Serve it with garlic bread or a simple salad, and you have an easy weeknight pasta dinner that feels a little more special than the usual bowl of noodles.
If you make it, leave a comment and let me know how spicy you like your pasta!
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Recipe
Spicy Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- ½ pound chicken thighs boneless skinless
- ½ teaspoon salt for chicken, plus ½ teaspoon for sauce
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ¼ onion minced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1-15 ounce can diced tomatoes drained
- ½ teaspoon crushed chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons harissa paste
- â…“ cup chicken stock
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces penne cooked and drained to package instructions (reserve ¼ cup pasta cooking water)
Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat a large high sided skillet over medium heat and add the butter.
- Brown the chicken thighs for 2-3 minutes per side. Remove and let cool.
- Slice the chicken in strips (or pieces) and set aside. **It's ok if it's not fully cooked at this point.
- Add the garlic and onion to the skillet and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes, paprika, chili flakes, salt and harissa and stir to combine.
- Add the stock and chicken pieces and simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the cream and simmer for 5-7 minutes, until the sauce is thickened and chicken is cooked through.
- Stir in the cooked pasta and parmesan cheese. Add 1 tablespoon of reserved pasta water at a time if the sauce is too thin.
Expert Tips:
- Add more or less harissa paste, crushed red pepper, and/or paprika to make the dish more or less spicy. You may need to adjust the salt to taste.
- Use any type of pasta you prefer. Cook it in salted water before adding it to the dish.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of cream cheese to the sauce to make it more creamy and give it a little tang.
- Add cooked shrimp or sausage when you add the chicken back in to the dish.
- Use chicken thighs for the juiciest result.
- Reserve pasta water before draining the pasta.
- If the sauce is too thick, loosen it with a little chicken stock, cream, or reserved pasta water.
Nicole says
What garnish do you use? Basil, parsley??
Danielle says
For this recipe I would opt for cilantro as I think it works well with the spice.
barbara says
The perfect easy weeknight meal. Loved the addition of harissa paste - so unique!
Danielle says
Glad to hear it!