Pollo Piccante Pasta

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Inspired by Zizzi's Casareccia Pollo Piccante pasta recipe, this super simple pollo piccante (aka spicy chicken pasta) is so delicious and only requires a handful of ingredients. It's perfect for a weeknight dinner served with a fresh green salad.

Simply let the chicken stock and wine reduce to make a glossy and flavourful sauce for this pollo piccante pasta recipe. I love topping this dish with parsley and parmesan for a bit of colour and extra flavour.

If you fancy some more pasta recipes, why not try out my Barbie Pasta, Tahini Chilli Oil Spaghetti, or Chipotle Carbonara.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS POLLO PICCANTE PASTA

3-ingredient sauce - this super simple pasta recipe only requires chicken stock, white wine, and harissa paste for the sauce. It's super flavourful and so easy to make.
30-minutes - this pollo piccanta pasta takes less than 30 minutes to make, so it's perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Easy ingredients - everything you need for this recipe you'll most likely have in your kitchen already. If not, then they'll definitely be in your local supermarket!

INGREDIENTS

Chicken - I've chosen to use chicken breast for this recipe. If you want to use chicken thighs, you can too! Fry them whole, then leave them to cool, then slice them up and toss them back into your pasta!
Peppers - red or yellow bell peppers are my favourite to use for this dish. You could use green but they're much less sweet in flavour.
Garlic - I've added two cloves, but feel free to add more if you're a garlic person!
Chicken stock - I used Kallø chicken stock cube (around 10g) and placed it in around 300ml water.
White wine - this is optional, but it does add a lovely acidity to the sauce that I'd recommend.
Harissa paste - Harissa originates from Tunisia and is a gorgeous paste made from dry red chilies, garlic, lemon, EVOO, and a handful of spices. You should be able to find some harissa paste at your local supermarket. You want to buy a good quality paste if possible. If not, then feel free to substitute this paste with some 1 teaspoon chilli flakes.
Sugar - this adds a slight sweetness to the dish which I love. But you don't have to add it in if you'd rather not.
Pasta - I've used rigatoni for this dish, but you can use any pasta shape you like from spaghetti to gnocchi.
Parsley - for a bit of freshness and greenery!
Parmesan - an essential ingredient to any pasta dish in my opininon!

HOW TO MAKE POLLO PICCANTE PASTA: STEP BY STEP

STEP 1: FRY YOUR CHICKEN & COOK YOUR PASTA

Place a non-stick frying pan on medium heat. Add in a glug of vegetable oil and then gently place in your chicken breast or thigh.
Fry your chicken for a few minutes on each side or until golden and then remove and set aside.
Meanwhile, place your pasta in a pan of salted boiling water. Cook according to package instructions and then drain and set aside (I always drizzle over some olive oil so that the pasta doesn't stick together).

STEP 2: FRY YOUR PEPPERS & MAKE YOUR SAUCE

Using the same pan on the same heat, add in your sliced peppers, garlic, and harissa paste. Give everything a good toss. Fry for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Pour in your chicken stock and your wine. Bring to a simmer and leave that to reduce for around 5-10 minutes.
Once your sauce has reduced into a glossy sauce, add in your pasta and your sliced chicken. Give everything a good mix until the pasta and chicken are coated in the sauce.

STEP 3: SERVE UP & ENJOY

Pollo picante pasta topped with parsley and parmesan cheese.

Garnish your pasta with chopped parsley and grated parmesan cheese.
Serve up with a green leafy salad and enjoy!

VARIATIONS & SUBSTITIONS

Peppers - if you don't like peppers and you'd like an alternative vegetable, why not try out courgette (zucchini), broccoli, or green beans.
Chicken - as I mentioned earlier, you can use chicken thighs or chicken breast in this recipe. However, if you'd like to make this pollo piccante pasta dish with another source of protein, I'd recommend using pork loin or white fish.
Vegan - if you'd like to veganise this dish, simply swap out the chicken with a plant-based alternative (more vegetables or you could use tofu), change the chicken stock to vegetable stock, and sprinkle with nutritional yeast instead of parmesan cheese.

FAQ FOR POLLO PICCANTE PASTA

Is pollo piccante spicy?

This recipe is quite mild as we are only using a small amount of harissa paste. If you want to make it more spicy, simply add in half a teaspoon of chilli flakes.

What does pollo piccante mean?

Pollo piccante translates from Italian into spicy chicken.

How can I store this recipe?

Place any leftovers into an airtight container and into the fridge for up to 3 days.

How do I reheat pollo piccante pasta?

Simply add a dash of milk into your airtight container and reheat using the microwave for a couple of minutes. Or you could reheat it in a plan on your stovetop. Once again, add in a splash of milk and place the pasta on medium heat. Stir frequently to ensure the pasta doesn't stick to the pan.

What is pollo piccante made from?

This recipe is made using chicken breast, peppers, and garlic. The sauce is then a combination of chicken stock, harissa paste, and wine.

What other carb could I have the chicken and sauce with?

You could easily serve it with rice or mashed potato. They would both be delicious.

MORE DELICIOUS CHICKEN RECIPES

Honey harissa chicken & chickpea pasta - This Honey Harissa Chicken Pasta with Chickpeas is one of my favourite go-to weeknight meals that takes less than 20 minutes to make. It's full of flavour and simple to make!
The BEST orange chicken recipe - If you love an Asian-inspired comfort dish, then you have got to try this Orange Chicken Recipe. It's tangy, sweet, spicy, and all things delicious.
One pot chicken biryani - If you love dumplings as much as I do, then you're going to love these Chicken & Prawn Dumplings with a gorgeous homemade chilli tahini sauce. They're some of my favourite dumplings to make and are perfect to impress your dinner guests!
Chicken & prawn dumplings - If you love dumplings as much as I do, then you're going to love these Chicken & Prawn Dumplings with a gorgeous homemade chilli tahini sauce. They're some of my favourite dumplings to make and are perfect to impress your dinner guests!