Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers + Cajun Pasta (Chili’s Dupe)
Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers + Cajun Pasta (Chili’s Dupe)
Ingredients
For the Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into desired pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 4 cups vegetable oil, for frying, or as needed
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons chipotle in adobo sauce, finely chopped, with 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon lime juice, freshly squeezed
For the Cajun Pasta
- 12 ounces fettuccine pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon creole seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- 1
Begin by preparing the chicken for the crispers. Cut the 1 pound of chicken breast into your desired pieces (strips or bite-sized chunks work well). Season the chicken pieces evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup milk and 1 large egg to create the wet batter. Set this aside.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
In a separate shallow bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Mix these dry ingredients thoroughly.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
To batter the chicken, dip each seasoned chicken piece first into the dry batter mixture, ensuring it's fully coated. Then, dip it into the wet batter mixture, allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, dip it back into the dry batter mixture for a double coating. Place the battered chicken on a clean plate or baking sheet as you go.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Heat 4 cups of vegetable oil (or enough to submerge the chicken pieces) in a deep pan or pot over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F. Carefully place the battered chicken pieces into the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown, crispy, and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F). Remove from oil and place on a wire rack set over paper towels to drain excess oil.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 350
- 6
While the chicken is frying, prepare the honey chipotle sauce. In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup honey, 2 tablespoons finely chopped chipotle in adobo sauce (including 1 tablespoon of the adobo sauce), 1/4 cup water, and 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly, about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 7 min
- 7
Once the chicken is fried, transfer the warm chicken pieces to a large bowl. Pour the prepared honey chipotle sauce over the chicken and toss gently until each piece is evenly coated.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Now, begin the Cajun Pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 ounces of fettuccine pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
⏱️ 10 min
- 9
While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or pan over medium heat. Add the 1/2 chopped yellow onion, 1 chopped red bell pepper, and 1 chopped green bell pepper. Sauté until the vegetables are softened, which should take about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 7 min
- 10
Pour 1 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup chicken broth into the pan with the sautéed vegetables. Stir in 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 2 min
- 11
Add 1 teaspoon creole seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the sauce. Stir well to combine all seasonings and let the sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 3 min
- 12
Add the cooked and drained pasta to the sauce in the pan. Toss to coat the pasta evenly with the Cajun sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 3 min
- 13
Serve the Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers immediately alongside the creamy Cajun Pasta. Enjoy your Chili's dupe!
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers + Cajun Pasta (Chili’s Dupe)
For the Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into desired pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 4 cups vegetable oil, for frying, or as needed
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons chipotle in adobo sauce, finely chopped, with 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon lime juice, freshly squeezed
For the Cajun Pasta
- 12 ounces fettuccine pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon creole seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- 1
Begin by preparing the chicken for the crispers. Cut the 1 pound of chicken breast into your desired pieces (strips or bite-sized chunks work well). Season the chicken pieces evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup milk and 1 large egg to create the wet batter. Set this aside.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
In a separate shallow bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Mix these dry ingredients thoroughly.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
To batter the chicken, dip each seasoned chicken piece first into the dry batter mixture, ensuring it's fully coated. Then, dip it into the wet batter mixture, allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, dip it back into the dry batter mixture for a double coating. Place the battered chicken on a clean plate or baking sheet as you go.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Heat 4 cups of vegetable oil (or enough to submerge the chicken pieces) in a deep pan or pot over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F. Carefully place the battered chicken pieces into the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown, crispy, and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F). Remove from oil and place on a wire rack set over paper towels to drain excess oil.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 350 - 6
While the chicken is frying, prepare the honey chipotle sauce. In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup honey, 2 tablespoons finely chopped chipotle in adobo sauce (including 1 tablespoon of the adobo sauce), 1/4 cup water, and 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly, about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 7 min - 7
Once the chicken is fried, transfer the warm chicken pieces to a large bowl. Pour the prepared honey chipotle sauce over the chicken and toss gently until each piece is evenly coated.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Now, begin the Cajun Pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 ounces of fettuccine pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
⏱️ 10 min - 9
While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or pan over medium heat. Add the 1/2 chopped yellow onion, 1 chopped red bell pepper, and 1 chopped green bell pepper. Sauté until the vegetables are softened, which should take about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 7 min - 10
Pour 1 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup chicken broth into the pan with the sautéed vegetables. Stir in 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 2 min - 11
Add 1 teaspoon creole seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the sauce. Stir well to combine all seasonings and let the sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 3 min - 12
Add the cooked and drained pasta to the sauce in the pan. Toss to coat the pasta evenly with the Cajun sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 3 min - 13
Serve the Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers immediately alongside the creamy Cajun Pasta. Enjoy your Chili's dupe!
⏱️ 1 min