Description
Delicious creamy chicken pesto pasta brings classic Italian flavors to your dinner table. Simple ingredients combine for a comforting meal you can enjoy with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 2 chicken breasts, diced
Pasta:
- 300 grams (10.5 ounces) penne or any pasta of choice
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup basil pesto
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water at high heat until perfectly tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. Thoroughly drain and reserve.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature. Introduce diced chicken, seasoning generously with salt and cracked pepper. Sauté until exterior turns golden and interior reaches complete doneness, roughly 7 minutes.
- Introduce finely chopped garlic to the sizzling pan, allowing aromatics to release for approximately 60-90 seconds.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Gently incorporate rich cream and vibrant pesto, creating a luxurious sauce. Allow mixture to softly simmer, stirring periodically for 3-4 minutes.
- Transfer drained pasta directly into the creamy sauce, carefully rotating and coating each strand thoroughly.
- Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan, folding delicately to integrate. Continue cooking momentarily to meld flavors and slightly thicken sauce.
- Plate immediately, garnishing with delicate fresh basil leaves and optional red pepper flakes for subtle heat and visual appeal.
Notes
- Swap chicken with tofu or tempeh for a vegetarian version that maintains the protein-rich profile.
- Use gluten-free pasta to transform this dish into a celiac-friendly meal without compromising taste.
- Fresh homemade pesto delivers more vibrant flavor compared to store-bought versions, so consider making your own when time allows.
- Toast pine nuts or add extra red pepper flakes to enhance the overall depth and complexity of the dish’s flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 850 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: fifty-five g
- Saturated Fat: twenty-one g
- Unsaturated Fat: thirty-two g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: seventy-eight g
- Fiber: four g
- Protein: fifty-two g
- Cholesterol: one hundred and twenty mg