Tag: easy weeknight dinner

If you love a creamy pasta but still want to keep your meals high in protein, this Hot Honey Halloumi Chicken Linguine needs to be on your menu. It’s the perfect balance of sweet, spicy and savoury: tender spiced chicken, silky garlic cream sauce, and golden crispy halloumi drizzled in hot honey on top.

It feels like proper comfort food, but each portion still packs a solid hit of protein, making it ideal for a satisfying lunch or easy weeknight dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• High protein and satisfying – thanks to the chicken, halloumi and light cream cheese, you’re getting a really decent protein boost while still enjoying creamy pasta.
• Sweet–spicy flavour combo – the hot honey halloumi is the star: crispy, salty cheese with that sticky honey, chilli and lemon hit on top.
• Simple ingredients – everything is supermarket‑friendly and you probably have most of the spices in your cupboard already.

• Perfect for two – this recipe is written for 2 portions, ideal for a cosy dinner or for cooking once and saving a portion for later.

Ingredients (Serves 2)

For the chicken pasta
• 200 g uncooked chicken breast, diced (about 7 oz)
• 2 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp onion powder
• Low‑cal cooking spray or 1–2 tsp olive oil
• 120 g dry linguine (about 4 oz)
• 80 g light cream cheese (about 1/3 cup)
• 1 chicken stock cube (or 1 tsp chicken bouillon powder)
• 8–10 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
• 150–200 ml reserved pasta water (2/3–3/4 cup), to loosen the sauce as needed
For the hot honey halloumi
• 80 g halloumi, cut into small chunks (about 3 oz)
• 2 tbsp honey
• Juice of 1/2 lemon (about 1–2 tbsp)
• 1/2–1 tsp chilli flakes / red pepper flakes, to taste
To finish

• Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Step‑by‑Step Method

1. Season the chicken
   Add your diced chicken breast to a bowl. Sprinkle over the paprika, garlic salt and onion powder. Give it a good mix so every piece is coated, then spray with a little oil (or drizzle with a small amount of olive oil) and toss again.
   This simple dry rub gives the chicken loads of flavour without needing a long marinade.
2. Cook the linguine
   Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the linguine according to the packet instructions until al dente.
   Before you drain the pasta, scoop out 150–200 ml (2/3–3/4 cup) of the starchy pasta water and set it aside – this is liquid gold for loosening and emulsifying your sauce later.
3. Fry the chicken
   Heat a large non‑stick frying pan over medium heat and give it a spray of oil. Add the seasoned chicken in an even layer and cook for around 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pieces are browned on the outside and cooked through in the middle.
   You want a bit of colour on the chicken here – it adds flavour and makes the sauce more savoury and rich.
4. Add garlic and tomatoes
   Once the chicken is cooked, add the crushed garlic and the halved cherry tomatoes straight into the pan. Pour in a small splash of water to help everything move.
   Let the tomatoes cook until they start to blister and soften, then gently press them down with the back of a spatula. They’ll break down into a fresh, slightly sweet tomato base for your sauce.
5. Build the creamy sauce
   Turn the heat down slightly and add the light cream cheese and chicken stock cube to the pan. Start with about 150 ml of the reserved pasta water and stir well until the cream cheese melts and the stock cube dissolves.
   You’re aiming for a smooth, glossy sauce that lightly coats the chicken. If it looks too thick, add a splash more pasta water; if it’s too thin, let it bubble gently for a minute or two to reduce.
6. Toss through the linguine
   Tip the drained linguine straight into the pan with the sauce. Use tongs or a couple of forks to toss the pasta through until every strand is coated.
   Keep the pan on low heat while you do this so the sauce stays warm and creamy without drying out.
7. Crisp up the halloumi
   In a separate pan, add a little cooking spray and place it over medium heat. Add the halloumi chunks in a single layer and fry for a few minutes on each side until they are golden and crispy with some deeper, caramelised edges.
   Halloumi can go from perfect to overdone fairly quickly, so keep an eye on it and turn as needed.
8. Make the hot honey
   While the halloumi is still in the pan, turn the heat to low. In a small bowl, mix together the honey, lemon juice and chilli flakes. Pour this mixture over the hot halloumi and gently toss to coat.
   The honey will loosen slightly with the heat, creating a glossy, sweet–spicy glaze that clings to the cheese.
9. Plate up
   Divide the creamy chicken linguine between two warm bowls. Spoon the hot honey halloumi over the top of each portion, making sure you get some of that sticky glaze too.

Finish with a sprinkling of freshly chopped parsley for colour and freshness.

Macros per Portion (Approximate)
These values will vary slightly depending on the exact brands you use, but as a guide, per serving you’re looking at roughly:
• Calories: 535 kcal
• Protein: 50 g
• Carbohydrates: 65 g
• Fat: 14 g

This makes it a great option if you’re trying to hit a higher protein target while still enjoying a proper, restaurant‑style bowl of pasta.

Tips and Variations
• Make it spicier: Add extra chilli flakes to the hot honey, or a pinch of cayenne to the chicken seasoning.
• Swap the pasta: Linguine works beautifully, but spaghetti, tagliatelle or a short pasta like rigatoni will also pick up the sauce nicely.
• Lighter option: Use reduced‑fat halloumi and go a little lighter on the honey to shave off a few calories if you prefer.

• Vegetarian twist: Swap the chicken for extra halloumi or a can of chickpeas (drained and dried before frying) and keep everything else the same.

How to Serve and Store
This dish is best served immediately so you get the full effect of that crispy, hot honey halloumi on top of the silky pasta.
If you do have leftovers:
• Cool them quickly and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
• Reheat gently in a pan with a splash of water or milk to loosen the sauce.

• The halloumi won’t be as crisp once reheated, but the flavours will still be delicious.