Description
This Zesty Greek Chicken Pasta with Spicy Harissa Feta Cream & Roasted Asparagus Crisps is the ultimate Mediterranean-inspired dinner. Packed with juicy chicken, tangy feta, smoky harissa, and crunchy asparagus, it’s a flavor-loaded creamy pasta dish perfect for weeknights. Keywords: Greek chicken pasta, harissa feta pasta, creamy Mediterranean pasta, spicy chicken pasta.
Ingredients
2 cups rotini pasta
1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 tablespoon olive oil (for marinade)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil (for cooking chicken)
1 bunch asparagus spears, trimmed
1 tablespoon olive oil (for roasting asparagus)
½ teaspoon salt (for asparagus)
½ teaspoon black pepper (for asparagus)
¾ cup feta cheese
½ cup Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons harissa paste
1 garlic clove (for sauce)
1 tablespoon lemon juice (for sauce)
1 tablespoon olive oil (for sauce)
½ cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
1. In a bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Add chicken thighs and coat well. Marinate for 30 minutes.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil, and sear chicken thighs until cooked through and golden. Slice into strips and set aside.
3. Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast in a single layer on a baking sheet for 15–18 minutes until crisp. Let cool and chop into bite-size pieces.
4. Cook rotini in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
5. In a food processor, blend feta, Greek yogurt, harissa paste, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil until smooth. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
6. Toss hot pasta with the harissa feta sauce. Add pasta water as needed to loosen. Fold in sliced chicken.
7. Serve pasta in bowls and top with roasted asparagus crisps. Garnish with extra feta and olive oil drizzle if desired.
Notes
Use chicken thighs for juicier, more flavorful bites.
Keep asparagus crisps separate until serving to preserve crunch.
For extra spice, add more harissa or a pinch of red chili flakes.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop, Oven
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 740mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 95mg