Description
Indulge in the luscious flavors of creamy chicken pesto pasta, where tender chicken meets vibrant green pesto and perfectly cooked pasta. This easy-to-make dish transforms any meal into a delicious Italian getaway, perfect for family dinners or festive gatherings. With its rich aroma and delightful taste, you’ll want to savor every bite!
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
- 8 oz penne or fettuccine pasta
- 1 cup fresh basil pesto
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Sear for 5-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove from skillet and slice.
- Prepare the Cream Sauce: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in heavy cream and stir until it begins to bubble.
- Mix in Pesto: Lower the heat, then add the pesto sauce to the cream mixture, stirring continuously until well combined.
- Cook Pasta: Boil pasta according to package instructions until al dente, reserving 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Combine: Return sliced chicken to the skillet with the creamy pesto sauce. Add drained pasta; mix gently while adding reserved pasta water as needed for desired consistency.
- Serve: Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top just before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Searing/Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (280g)
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 39g
- Saturated Fat: 21g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 130mg