Description
This Chicken Pesto Pasta is a creamy, flavorful Italian-inspired dish combining tender, seasoned chicken with al dente penne pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, and rich basil pesto. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner or an impressive date night meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Pasta and Sauce
- 8 ounces penne pasta (preferably with ridges)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, plus more for serving if desired
- 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes, drained if packed in oil
- 1/2 cup basil pesto (homemade or quality store-bought, plus more if desired)
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Handful of torn basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Season the chicken: In a bowl, toss the chicken pieces with Italian seasoning, a generous pinch of kosher salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and add about 1 tablespoon of salt. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8 to 9 minutes.
- Cook the chicken: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook, tossing occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through, about 7 to 8 minutes.
- Drain the pasta: Reserve about 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta well.
- Combine ingredients: Lower the heat under the skillet with the chicken. Stir in the cooked pasta, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes. Mix until everything is fully combined. Add reserved pasta water a few tablespoons at a time if the sauce looks dry to achieve a glossy, creamy coating.
- Add the pesto and finish: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the basil pesto. Garnish with extra grated parmesan, red pepper flakes to taste, and torn basil leaves before serving.
Notes
- This creamy chicken pesto pasta is an ideal quick and comforting dinner that comes together in just 20 minutes.
- Keep basil pesto on hand for fast weeknight meals with Italian flair.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes to control the spiciness according to your preference.
- Use freshly grated parmesan for the best flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 445 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 363 mg
- Fat: 23.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 7.8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.01 g
- Carbohydrates: 33.4 g
- Fiber: 2.3 g
- Protein: 24.7 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
