Quick Creamy Pesto Pasta with Chicken
A quick and easy creamy pesto pasta with tender chicken, ready in 20 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish combines fresh basil pesto with a rich, creamy sauce for a comforting yet fresh meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium chicken breasts, sliced into bite-sized strips
- 8 ounces (225 grams) pasta (penne or farfalle recommended)
- ½ cup (120 ml) fresh basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream or 4 ounces (115 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin recommended)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup (25 grams) grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- A handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces (225 grams) of pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve ½ cup (120 ml) of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced chicken breast pieces, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 5-6 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Stir occasionally. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium, add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Lower heat to medium-low. Add ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream or softened cream cheese to the skillet, stirring constantly until smooth and warm. If using cream cheese, allow it to melt and blend with the garlic.
- Stir in ½ cup (120 ml) fresh basil pesto and ¼ cup (25 grams) grated Parmesan cheese. Mix well. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it.
- Return cooked chicken to the skillet, add the drained pasta, and toss everything together to coat evenly with the creamy pesto sauce. Heat through for 1-2 minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Sprinkle chopped fresh basil leaves on top. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan on the side.
Notes
Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Avoid boiling sauce after adding cream or cream cheese to prevent curdling. Do not overcrowd pan when cooking chicken to ensure browning. Use gentle heat and patience when melting cream cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
Keywords: quick dinner, creamy pesto pasta, chicken pasta, easy pasta recipe, weeknight meal, basil pesto, creamy sauce