Description
This Chicken Pesto Pasta is a quick and comforting dish featuring tender pasta, juicy chicken, and a rich homemade basil pesto. It’s perfect for busy weeknights and packed with vibrant flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz dry pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken, diced
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water and drain.
- In a food processor or blender, combine basil, garlic, pine nuts, parmesan, salt, and pepper. Slowly stream in olive oil while blending until smooth.
- If cooking chicken fresh, season and sear in a skillet until golden and cooked through. Set aside.
- Return drained pasta to the pot. Add cooked chicken and pesto sauce. Toss gently to combine.
- Warm the mixture over low heat, adding reserved pasta water gradually to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Sprinkle with extra parmesan and garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.
Notes
- Toast pine nuts for a richer flavor before blending.
- Use fresh, young basil leaves to avoid bitterness.
- Store leftover pesto in an airtight container with a layer of olive oil on top.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 31g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: chicken pesto pasta, easy dinner, homemade pesto, weeknight pasta, basil pesto recipe