Basil Pesto Chicken Pasta
A quick and delicious dinner featuring tender chicken and pesto-coated pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grilling or Searing
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Low Calorie
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1 cup basil pesto
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped (optional)
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water (optional)
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry and season with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- In a hot skillet or grill pan, sear the chicken for 5–6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (165°F internal temp). Let rest.
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Slice rested chicken into strips or bite-sized pieces.
- Toss the drained pasta with pesto. Add a splash of pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Plate pasta and top with sliced chicken. Garnish with parmesan and fresh basil. Serve warm.
Notes
- Ensure chicken is fully cooked with an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Adjust the thickness of the pesto sauce with pasta water for desired consistency.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Find it online: https://www.spiritsdrink.com/basil-pesto-chicken-pasta-recipe/