🌶️🍯🐔🥦🧄🧀 Spicy Hot Honey Chicken Alfredo with Parmesan Cauliflower & Roasted Garlic Pesto
This intensely flavorful and comforting bowl brings together succulent hot honey-glazed Greek chicken, perfectly crispy Parmesan cauliflower bites, all bathed in a rich garlic Alfredo sauce swirled with a fragrant roasted garlic pesto. A final flourish of chili flakes and fresh lemon zest elevates every bite, making this a truly gourmet and unforgettable meal.
Yields: 2-3 servings
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 30-35 minutes
Ingredients:
🐔🌶️🍯 Hot Honey-Glazed Greek Chicken:
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
1 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp smoked paprika
Salt & freshly cracked black pepper to taste
¼ cup hot honey 🍯🌶️ (store-bought or mix honey with your favorite hot sauce)
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice 🍋
🥦🧀 Crispy Parmesan Cauliflower Bites:
1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
2 tbsp olive oil
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese 🧀
Salt & freshly cracked black pepper to taste
🧄🌿 Creamy Sauce: Garlic Alfredo with a Roasted Garlic Pesto Swirl:
For Roasted Garlic Pesto:
1 head garlic, top sliced off to expose cloves 🧄
1 tbsp olive oil
¼ cup fresh basil leaves 🌿
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese 🧀
1 tbsp pine nuts (optional, or walnuts)
2-3 tbsp olive oil (for blending pesto)
Salt to taste
For Alfredo Sauce:
2 tbsp butter 🧈
2 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
1 ½ cups heavy cream
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese 🧀
Salt & freshly cracked black pepper to taste
🍋🌶️ Twist Finishes:
Pinch of red pepper flakes (for garnish) 🌶️
Zest of ½ lemon 🍋
Instructions:
Roast Garlic & Prepare Cauliflower:
Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F).
Place the whole garlic head on a small piece of foil, drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil, wrap tightly. Place on a baking sheet.
In a large bowl, toss cauliflower florets with 2 tbsp olive oil, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Spread in a single layer on the same baking sheet (or a separate one).
Roast garlic and cauliflower for 25-30 minutes. Cauliflower should be golden brown and crispy; garlic should be soft and fragrant.
Once roasted, remove garlic from foil, let cool, then squeeze the soft roasted cloves into a small bowl.
Make Roasted Garlic Pesto:
In a food processor or with a mortar and pestle, combine the roasted garlic cloves, fresh basil, 2 tbsp grated Parmesan, pine nuts (if using), and a pinch of salt.
Pulse or mash while slowly drizzling in 2-3 tbsp olive oil until a rustic pesto forms. Set aside.
Cook Hot Honey-Glazed Greek Chicken:
While cauliflower roasts and you make pesto, in a bowl, toss chicken bites with 2 tbsp olive oil, 3 cloves minced garlic, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cooked through and lightly browned. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Stir in hot honey and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened. Return chicken to the skillet and toss to coat with the glaze. Keep warm.
Prepare Garlic Alfredo Sauce:
In a separate medium saucepan or skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
Add 2 cloves minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Pour in 1 ½ cups heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
Stir in ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Keep warm over very low heat.
Assemble & Serve:
Divide the crispy Parmesan cauliflower bites among bowls.
Spoon the hot honey-glazed Greek chicken over the cauliflower.
Pour a generous amount of the garlic Alfredo sauce over the chicken and cauliflower.
Now, take spoonfuls of the roasted garlic pesto and swirl it directly into the Alfredo sauce in each bowl for that beautiful marbling and intense flavor.
Finish with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes (for extra heat and visual appeal) and fresh lemon zest.
Serve immediately and enjoy this spectacular, flavor-packed dish!
Tips for Success:
Roasted Garlic: Roasting garlic mellows its sharpness and brings out a wonderful sweetness, perfect for the pesto.
Hot Honey Adjustment: Adjust the amount of hot honey on the chicken to your preference for sweetness and spice.
Cauliflower Crispiness: Ensure cauliflower is in a single layer on the baking sheet and not overcrowded for maximum crispiness.
Pesto Texture: The roasted garlic pesto is meant to be rustic and swirled, adding pockets of intense flavor. If you prefer a smoother pesto, feel free to blend it longer.
Sauce Consistency: If the Alfredo sauce seems too thick, thin it with a splash of warm water or chicken broth until it reaches your desired consistency.