Description
A dreamy Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta dish featuring tender chicken, creamy pesto sauce, and al dente pasta, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10.5 ounces penne or rigatoni pasta
- 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced (about 10.5 ounces total)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3.5 ounces baby spinach (optional for extra nutrition)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than the package instructions suggest. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the diced chicken with salt and black pepper, and sauté until cooked through and golden, about 5–6 minutes. Remove from heat.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat and add the minced garlic. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in the heavy cream and whole milk; let it come to a gentle simmer for 2–3 minutes until it starts to thicken. Mix in the basil pesto and grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until smooth.
- Return the cooked chicken, drained pasta, and spinach (if using) to the sauce, tossing until everything is well-coated.
- Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish and evenly sprinkle shredded mozzarella and additional Parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
You can swap the chicken for grilled shrimp or use gluten-free pasta if needed. For added depth, sauté mushrooms or sun-dried tomatoes with the chicken.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: pasta, creamy, chicken, pesto, weeknight dinner, easy recipe, comfort food