Description
This Chicken Pesto Pasta is a delightful meal that combines tender chicken, vibrant basil pesto, and perfectly cooked pasta. It’s a quick and satisfying dish that’s perfect for any weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Pasta:
- 12 oz pasta (fettuccine or penne)
Chicken:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound or 450g)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Pesto Pasta:
- 1 cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Cook chicken until golden and cooked through. Let rest before slicing.
- Sauté Tomatoes: In the same skillet, sauté cherry tomatoes until slightly softened.
- Combine: Add cooked pasta, basil pesto, and reserved pasta water to the skillet. Toss to coat pasta in pesto.
- Assemble: Slice chicken and place on top of pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and garnish with basil leaves.
- Serve: Immediately serve and enjoy!
Notes
- For homemade basil pesto, blend fresh basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil until smooth.
- You can customize by adding vegetables like spinach or bell peppers for added flavor and nutrition. Adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
