Chicken Pesto Pasta
Chicken Pesto Pasta is a winning weeknight dinner. Not only is it ready in just 30 minutes, but the simple ingredients pack in layers of comforting flavors. The irresistibly smooth and creamy bites are impossible to resist!
Servings: 6
Calories: 499kcal
Ingredients
- 12 oz. pasta
- ¼ cup salted pasta water reserved
- 1 lb. chicken breast diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 oz. grape tomatoes
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ⅓ cup shredded mozzarella or parmesan cheese
for the pesto:
- ⅓ cup pine nuts
- 2 small garlic cloves
- 1 cup spinach
- 2 cups basil
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°.
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water and reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water before draining.
- While the pasta is cooking, make the pesto: Add the pine nuts, garlic, spinach, basil, lemon juice, parmesan, and salt to your food processor and blend. With the motor still running, pour the olive oil in through the top and pulse until smooth; set aside.
- Next, heat the olive oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium heat, then add the chicken and cook it until it's golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and tomatoes to the skillet and sauté for 2 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat.
- Add the cooked pasta, along with the pasta and HALF of the mozzarella cheese and stir to combine. Now, add the pasta water to thin out the pesto.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese overtop, then place a lid on the skillet and put it in the oven for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted. Add salt and pepper to taste, along with red pepper flakes (optional) and enjoy!
Video
Notes
*Calories are per serving and are an estimation
*Storage: store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days
*Add-ins: want to bulk this up even more? Try adding mushrooms, asparagus, spinach, zucchini, and/or sun-dried tomatoes
Nutrition
Calories: 499kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 302mg | Potassium: 654mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1463IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 126mg | Iron: 2mg