Description
A comforting, creamy pasta dish featuring tender chicken and bright basil pesto, ready in about 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces pasta (penne, fusilli, or farfalle)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound bite-sized chicken pieces
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup prepared basil pesto
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 to 1 cup reserved pasta water
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente (9–11 minutes).
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sear chicken pieces until golden and cooked through (about 4–5 minutes per side).
- Remove chicken, sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds.
- Add heavy cream and basil pesto, stirring to combine.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese and reserved pasta water until reaching desired consistency.
- Return chicken and drained pasta to the pan, toss until combined, adjust seasoning, and serve immediately.
Notes
For best results, use high-quality pesto and reserve enough pasta water to achieve a silky sauce. Cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F for safety.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing and Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 85mg