Description
A quick and easy weeknight dinner featuring tender chicken, creamy pesto sauce, and pasta. This recipe is pantry-friendly, takes only 20 minutes to make, and is a crowd-pleaser for all ages.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 pound penne or rigatoni pasta
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup pesto sauce
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- Salt, for pasta water
- Optional: 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- Optional: 2 cups fresh spinach
- Optional: 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Slice chicken into bite-sized pieces, mince garlic, and measure all ingredients.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer and cook for 3-4 minutes until golden, then flip and cook 2-3 minutes more until cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add chicken broth and simmer for 1 minute to deglaze.
- Stir in heavy cream and pesto. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Return chicken to the skillet. Add drained pasta and toss to coat. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water gradually. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted.
- Serve immediately topped with extra Parmesan, black pepper, and fresh basil.
Notes
Save the starchy pasta water to help thicken the sauce. Use fresh Parmesan cheese rather than pre-grated to avoid anti-caking agents that make the sauce grainy. Remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent separation. If the sauce is too watery, let it simmer longer. If too thick, add reserved pasta water.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 380
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: pesto chicken pasta, creamy pasta, weeknight dinner, easy dinner, 20 minute meals, chicken pasta recipe, family friendly dinner