Description
This Best Honey Pepper Chicken Panini Pasta Recipe combines tender grilled chicken, flavorful honey pepper sauce, and cheesy pasta layered in crispy ciabatta bread. The dish offers a delightful fusion of textures and tastes, perfect for a comforting lunch or dinner in just 35 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Honey Pepper Sauce
- ½ cup honey
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Pasta
- 1 cup cooked penne pasta
Sandwich
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 slices ciabatta or panini bread
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper. Grill or pan-sear over medium heat for about 6-7 minutes per side until the chicken is cooked through and golden brown. Once cooked, remove from heat and slice into strips.
- Make the Honey Pepper Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine honey, black pepper, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, butter, and garlic powder. Simmer over low heat for 5-7 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally.
- Prepare the Pasta: Toss the cooked penne pasta in the warm honey pepper sauce, mixing well to coat each piece evenly with the sauce.
- Assemble the Sandwich: Spread mayonnaise and Dijon mustard evenly on one side of each slice of ciabatta bread. Layer the bottom slices with shredded mozzarella cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced chicken strips, and then the coated penne pasta. Top with the remaining bread slices, sauce side down.
- Grill the Panini: Heat a panini press or skillet over medium heat. If using a skillet, add olive oil to coat the bottom. Place the assembled sandwich in the press or skillet and cook for about 3-4 minutes per side, pressing down slightly, until the bread is golden brown and crispy and the cheeses have melted completely.
- Serve: Remove the panini from the heat, slice in half, and serve warm. Enjoy the delicious combination of honey pepper chicken and cheesy pasta in every bite.
Notes
- For a spicier version, add red pepper flakes to the honey pepper sauce.
- Use freshly ground black pepper for a more intense flavor.
- Leftover honey pepper chicken pasta can be stored separately and reheated for an easy meal.
- Substitute ciabatta with sourdough or focaccia bread if preferred.
- Use a grill pan if a panini press is unavailable to achieve a similar crispy texture.
