Description
This creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta recipe combines tender, seasoned chicken with al dente penne pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, and rich basil pesto in a luscious heavy cream and parmesan sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner or a special date night meal with a delicious Italian flair.
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 & 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 fresh 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 to coat evenly. This step ensures the chicken is flavorful.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and salt it well with about 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Add the penne pasta and cook until al dente, approximately 8 to 9 minutes according to package instructions.
- 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 the chicken is golden brown on the outside and cooked through, about 7 to 8 minutes.
- Drain the pasta: Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta thoroughly to prepare for combining.
- Combine ingredients: Reduce heat to low under the skillet with the chicken. Stir in the cooked pasta, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes. Mix well to combine; if the sauce appears dry, add a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water at a time until the pasta is glossy and coated in the creamy sauce.
- Add the pesto and garnish: Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the basil pesto until fully incorporated. Finish by sprinkling red pepper flakes, extra parmesan if desired, and torn basil leaves atop. Serve immediately for a warm, comforting meal.
Notes
- This chicken pesto pasta makes a quick yet elegant dinner option perfect for date nights or whenever you crave creamy Italian comfort food.
- Keep basil pesto on hand in your fridge to whip up this dish anytime within 20 minutes.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to suit your spice preference.
- Reserve pasta water carefully to help loosen the sauce for a beautifully glossy texture.
- For a lighter version, consider using half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
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
