Chicken Pesto Pasta: 1 Amazing Weeknight Meal
A quick and easy chicken pesto pasta recipe perfect for a weeknight dinner. Tender chicken and pasta tossed in a vibrant basil pesto sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 8 ounces pasta (penne, rotini, or your favorite)
- 1/2 cup prepared pesto
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Optional: cherry tomatoes, halved; grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken pieces to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook chicken until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta and pesto to the skillet with the chicken.
- Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are well coated with pesto. If the sauce seems too thick, add a little reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Stir in optional cherry tomatoes if using.
- Serve immediately, topped with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- For a creamier sauce, stir in a tablespoon of cream cheese or a splash of heavy cream with the pesto.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like spinach, broccoli, or bell peppers. Add heartier vegetables with the chicken to cook them through.
- If you have fresh basil, you can add a few leaves at the end for extra freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: Approx. 550
- Sugar: Approx. 3g
- Sodium: Approx. 500mg
- Fat: Approx. 25g
- Saturated Fat: Approx. 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: Approx. 19g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: Approx. 45g
- Fiber: Approx. 3g
- Protein: Approx. 35g
- Cholesterol: Approx. 90mg