Description
This Chicken Pesto Pasta is a quick and creamy dish that captures the essence of Italian cuisine in every bite. With tender chicken pieces tossed in a rich basil pesto sauce, combined with sun-dried tomatoes, this recipe is perfect for a cozy dinner at home or a special date night. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s sure to become a staple in your weeknight meal rotation. Serve it as a hearty main course or pair it with a fresh salad for a complete dining experience.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Handful of torn basil leaves
Instructions
- Season chicken with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Boil salted water in a medium pot and cook penne pasta until al dente.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet and cook chicken until golden brown.
- Reserve pasta water and drain pasta.
- Combine pasta with chicken, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes in the skillet.
- Stir in basil pesto and adjust sauce consistency with reserved pasta water if necessary.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approximately 340g)
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 53g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 100mg