Description
A comforting and easy one-pot dinner featuring tender chicken, creamy pesto sauce, and pasta, ready in 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1½ cups chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta (penne or rigatoni recommended)
- ½ cup pesto (homemade or store-bought)
- ¾ cup heavy cream (full-fat)
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil (optional, for garnish)
- Optional add-ins:
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Lower heat to medium. Add more olive oil if needed, then add minced garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Pour in chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil. Add uncooked pasta, ensuring it is mostly submerged. Cover skillet with a lid and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10-12 minutes until pasta is tender and broth mostly absorbed.
- Lower heat to medium-low. Stir in heavy cream and pesto until fully combined and sauce thickens, about 3-4 minutes. If using cherry tomatoes or spinach, add now to soften.
- Return cooked chicken to skillet. Stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Add a splash of broth or cream if sauce is too thick.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
[‘Use room temperature cream to prevent sauce from seizing.’, ‘Stir pasta occasionally during cooking to prevent sticking.’, ‘Save some broth before adding cream to thin sauce if needed.’, ‘Add Parmesan cheese off heat to avoid grainy sauce.’, ‘A splash of lemon juice brightens the pesto flavor.’, ‘Adding a dab of butter at the end adds shine and richness.’, ‘Leftovers reheat best gently on stovetop with added broth or cream.’, ‘Does not freeze well due to cream sauce separation.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 420
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 32
Keywords: creamy pesto chicken pasta, one-pot dinner, easy pasta recipe, weeknight dinner, chicken pasta, pesto sauce, creamy pasta