Description
Chicken Pesto Pasta is a quick and flavorful dish that brings together tender chicken, vibrant basil pesto, and perfectly cooked pasta for a satisfying meal in under 30 minutes. This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions, offering rich flavors with the option to customize ingredients. Whether you use homemade or store-bought pesto, this dish will impress your family and friends alike.
Ingredients
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Pasta (penne or fettuccine)
- Pesto sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Olive oil
- Heavy cream (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook pasta: Boil salted water and cook pasta until al dente; reserve some pasta water before draining.
- Sauté chicken: In a skillet, heat olive oil and cook seasoned chicken until golden brown, about 5-7 minutes.
- Combine: Add cooked pasta and pesto to the skillet; mix well. If desired, stir in cream for added richness.
- Adjust consistency: Gradually add reserved pasta water until reaching your desired creaminess.
- Serve: Plate the dish and sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
For additional flavor, consider marinating the chicken in pesto before cooking.
Feel free to add vegetables like sun-dried tomatoes or spinach for extra nutrition.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 85mg