Description
Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta is a rich and flavorful dish combining juicy chicken, roasted tomatoes, and creamy basil pesto sauce. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, this dish is easy to make, yet packed with savory flavors. It’s a comforting meal the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 10 oz cherry tomatoes (sliced in half)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for roasting tomatoes)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for chicken)
- 1.5 lb chicken breast (2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 8 oz pasta (bow-tie, penne, or fusilli)
- 1/4 cup basil pesto
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup pine nuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss cherry tomatoes, sliced in half, with 2 tablespoons olive oil and minced garlic. Spread them in a casserole dish and roast for about 20 minutes while preparing the rest of the ingredients.
- Prepare the chicken by slicing the chicken breasts horizontally to make them thinner. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for about 5 minutes on each side until fully cooked. Remove the chicken from the skillet and slice thinly.
- Bring a pot of water to boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta.
- In the same skillet, add the cooked pasta, basil pesto, and heavy cream. Stir gently to coat the pasta with the sauce and bring to a simmer.
- Top the pasta with sliced chicken, roasted tomatoes, and pine nuts (optional). Season with additional salt and pepper, or add crushed red pepper flakes for extra heat if desired. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- If you prefer a lighter version, you can substitute the heavy cream with a lighter alternative like half-and-half or coconut cream.
- Feel free to use any pasta shape you prefer, such as spaghetti or rigatoni.
- For an extra flavor boost, sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese over the top before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 764
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 44g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 28g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 120mg