Name: Chicken Pesto Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 2 Chicken breasts (or thighs or rotisserie chicken); 12 oz Penne pasta (or any preferred pasta); 1/2 cup Basil pesto (store-bought or homemade); 1/2 cup Heavy cream (or half-and-half); 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated); 1 cup Cherry tomatoes (halved); 2 Garlic cloves (minced); 2 tbsp Olive oil (for cooking); Salt and pepper (to taste); Fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish); 2 tbsp Pine nuts (optional, for topping); 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese (optional, for extra cheesiness); Pasta water (reserved, about 1/2 cup)

Description

A quick and delicious meal combining tender chicken, colorful cherry tomatoes, and creamy pesto sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

2 Chicken breasts (or thighs or rotisserie chicken)
12 oz Penne pasta (or any preferred pasta)
1/2 cup Basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
1/2 cup Heavy cream (or half-and-half)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
1 cup Cherry tomatoes (halved)
2 Garlic cloves (minced)
2 tbsp Olive oil (for cooking)
Salt and pepper (to taste)
Fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)
2 tbsp Pine nuts (optional, for topping)
1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese (optional, for extra cheesiness)
Pasta water (reserved, about 1/2 cup)

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Instructions

Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper, halve the tomatoes, and mince the garlic.
Heat olive oil in a skillet, then cook the chicken for 6–7 minutes on each side. Set aside and slice it after cooking.
Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions. Reserve some pasta water before draining.
In the same skillet, sauté the minced garlic for about 30 seconds, then add the halved cherry tomatoes, cooking for 2–3 minutes.
Add the pesto and cream to the skillet. Stir and let it simmer gently.
Toss the cooked pasta and sliced chicken into the sauce, mixing well. Stir in the Parmesan cheese. If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
Garnish with grated Parmesan, fresh basil, pine nuts, or mozzarella cheese if desired.

Notes

For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in pesto for a few hours before cooking. Feel free to add vegetables like spinach, zucchini, or bell peppers for more nutrition.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Cooking on Stove
Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 450
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 500mg
Fat: 20g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 30g
Cholesterol: 80mg