Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta

This creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta recipe is made with tasty chicken and tender pasta smothered in a luscious cream and basil pesto sauce. This easy chicken pesto pasta recipe is made with pantry staples and comes together in 30 minutes

This creamy pesto chicken pasta is pure comfort food. This is one of those simple pasta dishes that looks impressive, yet it’s easy enough to make on busy weeknights.

I like making the creamy pesto sauce with this flavorful homemade basil pesto recipe however, on busy days when I’m short on time or I can’t find fresh basil at the market, store-bought pesto works as well.

Chicken Pesto Pasta Ingredients

• Chicken: In this recipe, I use boneless and skinless chicken breast cut into bite sized pieces. Chicken thighs can also be used.
• Pesto Sauce: On really busy days, when my time is limited, using store-bought pesto makes this dish even quicker and easier. Get a good quality pesto sauce. My favorite is Costco’s Kirkland brand. From the supermarket I prefer the ones from the refrigerated area.
• Onions and Fresh Garlic: I usually use brown or yellow onions and fresh garlic cloves (this pasta recipe also uses garlic powder).
• Oil: I prefer using olive oil. Avocado or canola oil are also good options.
• Broth: Chicken broth, regular or low-sodium.
• Flour: All-purpose flour.
• Butter: I prefer using unsalted butter for cooking, but if you only have salted butter, that works as well.
• Half and Half: Half and half produces a richer sauce than whole milk however, you can substitute the half and half if you prefer.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan is always best.
• Seasonings: Garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and ground black pepper.
• Pasta: A short pasta with ridges is my preferred pasta when making Pesto Chicken Pasta. The ridges hold the creamy sauce better than most noodles. Cavattapi, penne rigate, rigattoni and fusilli are good options. Besides short noodles, spaghetti is always a pasta that comes to my rescue at home.

How To Make Chicken Pesto Pasta

Detailed instructions for making this creamy chicken pasta can be found in the recipe card below.

1. Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of cooking water and drain the pasta.
2. While the pasta is cooking, season the chicken with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper then sprinkle with flour and toss to coat.
3. In a large skillet, cook the chicken until golden brown the remove the chicken from the skillet. Set aside.
4. In the same skillet, melt the butter and saute the onions until they become translucent. Add the garlic and cook for a minute.
5. Add the broth to the skillet and deglaze it by scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon. This will remove the brown bits stuck at the bottom of the pan.
6. Add the pesto, Half and Half and garlic powder and simmer. The sauce will start to thicken a bit.
7. Return the chicken and any collected juices to the skillet. Simmer for a few minutes.
8. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and mix well to combine.
9. Add the pasta and toss gently. If you want a creamier consistency, add some of the cooking water and mix well.

Take A Look At These Other Easy Pasta Recipes:

• Cajun Shrimp Alfredo Pasta
• Mac and Cheese Carbonara
• One Pot Pizza Pasta
• Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese
• One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese
• Pesto Pasta Salad
• Pumpkin Pasta with Italian Sausage

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5 from 15 votes

Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta

Kathy McDaniel

his creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta recipe is made with tasty chicken and tender pasta smothered in a luscious cream and basil pesto sauce. This easy chicken pesto pasta recipe is made with pantry staples and comes together in 30 minutes

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
• ▢ Salt and ground black pepper to taste
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ▢ 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 1 tablespoon butter
• ▢ 1 small onion, chopped
• ▢ 4 garlic cloves, minced
• ▢ 1 cup chicken broth
• ▢ 12 ounces basil pesto
• ▢ 1/2 cup Half and Half
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• ▢ 8 ounces pasta *See notes
• ▢ Chopped basil for garnish (optional)

Instructions

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain.
• While the pasta is cooking, season the chicken with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Add the flour and toss to coat.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5-7 minutes or until browned, Add extra oil, if needed. Remove from the skillet and reserve.
• To the same skillet, add the butter and saute the onions for about 3 – 4 minutes or until they become translucent. Add the garlic and cook for a minute.
• Deglaze the skillet by adding the chicken broth. Scrape the bottom of the pan to remove the brown bits. Bring to a boil. Stir in the pesto and lower the heat. Add the Half and Half and garlic powder. Simmer for about 2-3 minutes.
• Return the chicken and any collected juices to the skillet and toss to coat. Simmer for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and mix well.
• Add the cooked pasta and toss gently. Add some of the cooking water only if a creamier consistency is desired. Serve warm garnished with chopped basil (optional).

Chef’s Tips

• When cooking this creamy pasta recipe, make sure the sauce doesn’t boil as it can separate.
• Pasta dishes are best served immediately after tossing the pasta with the sauce. If you wait too long to serve it, the pasta tends to dry up.
• If your pasta gets too dry, add additional pasta cooking water to make the pasta creamier again.
• You can use your favorite short pasta.

Nutrition

Calories: 557kcal (28%)Carbohydrates: 37g (12%)Protein: 27g (54%)Fat: 32g (49%)Saturated Fat: 8g (50%)Cholesterol: 71mg (24%)Sodium: 922mg (40%)Potassium: 454mg (13%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 1360IU (27%)Vitamin C: 5.3mg (6%)Calcium: 234mg (23%)Iron: 1.4mg (8%)

* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.

Course:Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine:Italian

Keyword:Chicken Pesto Pasta

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