Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta

Chicken Pesto Pasta is full of flavorful chicken and tender pasta in a creamy, cheesy pesto sauce. It’s quick and easy, coming together in under 30 minutes.

My Chicken Pesto Pasta recipe is a family favorite and a great way to use my nut-free pesto. Serve with a side of broccoli or a simple Garden Salad for a complete meal.

Ingredients for Chicken Pesto Pasta

This recipe for Chicken Pesto Pasta combines my Nut Free Pesto and a creamy cheese sauce for a truly magical dish.

• Pasta – I chose penne pasta, but you can use any small cut pasta like farfalle or rotini. You could even use fettuccine or spaghetti if you like.
• Chicken breast – You need 1 pound of chicken which is usually 2-3 chicken breasts. Chicken tenders will work too since you’re going to cut the meat into bite sized pieces.
• Fresh garlic and Italian seasoning for the chicken.
• The cheese sauce – Flour and butter to make a roux, chicken broth, heavy cream, Parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses.
• Pesto – Fresh is best, and you can use one of my recipes for Nut Free Pesto or Walnut Basil Pesto Recipe. You only need about half a cup and the leftover can be added to scrambled eggs or spread on Crostini to make Pesto Bruschetta. If you need something quick, there are plenty of delicious jarred options as well.
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh basil – optional, for garnish.

How to Make Chicken Pesto Pasta

1. Cook chicken in a pan on the stovetop with some garlic and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper and set cooked chicken aside on a plate. Use the same skillet to make the creamy pesto sauce described below.
2. Cook your favorite pasta according to the package directions. Drain the water and set it aside with the chicken.
3. Combine the chicken, pasta, and sauce together in the skillet. Serve with fresh chopped basil for garnish.

Creamy Pesto Sauce

The creamy pesto sauce is similar to an Alfredo but not quite as heavy. It starts as a sort of bechamel, then Parmesan adds a nice bite while Mozzarella makes it super creamy.

1. Melt some butter in a deep skillet or saute pan, then whisk in flour. Let it cook for a few minutes until it’s like a thick paste and golden in color.
2. Pour in chicken broth and milk or cream. Nonfat milk will cut some calories but a cream or even half and half will make it more smooth and creamy, so I use a combination of both. Let the sauce simmer for several minutes until it’s thick. Don’t boil it or it could scorch. You just want a nice simmer with bubbles coming to the top.
3. Remove from the heat and stir in pesto and cheese. Add to the finished dish.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Make this a meatless dish and forego the chicken.
• Or, use leftover or rotisserie chicken breast.
• I recommend using chicken breasts rather then thighs or dark meat, which can be a little greasy in this recipe.
• Cook chicken in a single layer so it will cook and brown evenly.
• Remove the pan from the heat when adding the pesto and cheese.
• The mozzarella can seize up if you don’t get it blended in right away. Mix quickly. You could also try adding the mozzarella a little at a time, stirring well to blend it in each time. Same with the parmesan.

Serving Suggestions and Variations

With chicken, pasta, and a creamy pesto sauce, this is a pretty heavy meal. I like to serve it with a simple garden salad on the side. If I’m feeding a larger crowd, I’ll whip up a loaf of garlic bread, too.

Another option is to add some veggies to the pasta. Fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, or cherry tomatoes would all be fantastic. Saute veggies separately and add to the finished dish.

Storage and Freezing

Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator, or you can freeze them for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge when you are ready to eat. I recommend reheating on the stove, at a low heat and adding a couple splashes of milk to keep it creamy.

More Pasta Recipes You’ll Love

Looking for some more easy pasta recipes to add to your recipe box? Try these:

• One Pot Pizza Pasta
• Bruschetta Chicken Pasta
• Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta with Chicken
• Pesto Chicken Florentine
• Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta

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Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta

Kristin Maxwell

Chicken Pesto Pasta has pasta and chicken coated in a creamy, cheesy pesto sauce. It's an easy, delicious meal that's ready in 30 minutes!

4.72 from 21 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 4 servings

Calories 784 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ½ pound penne pasta about 2 1/2 cups dry (half of a one pound box)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cut into bite-sized chunks
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup half and half or all milk/cream
• ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 1 cup freshly shredded Mozzarella
• ½ cup fresh basil pesto or more, to taste
• Fresh basil for garnish, if desired

Instructions

 

• Boil pasta to al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat and olive oil, then add minced garlic, italian seasoning and diced chicken breast. Season with salt and pepper and cook until chicken is no longer pink, stirring chicken a couple of times to brown on all sides. Transfer chicken to a plate and discard any liquid in the skillet.
• Return skillet to the stove over medium heat and melt butter. Whisk in the flour and cook until golden, about 3 minutes.
• Whisk in chicken broth and half & half and bring to a boil. If it begins to boil too rapidly, turn the heat down a little. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until the sauce has reduced and thickened.
• Remove from heat and stir in pesto and cheeses. Add the pasta and chicken and stir to coat. Garnish with fresh chopped basil and fresh cracked black pepper.

Notes

Optional add-ins: fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, yellow squash, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes.

The mozzarella can seize up if you don’t get it blended in right away. Mix quickly. You could also try adding half of the mozzarella at a time, stirring well to blend it in each time. 

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days, or up to 4 months in the freezer. Make sure to cool completely first.

To reheat, thaw completely in the fridge then I recommend reheating on the stove, at a low heat and adding a little bit of milk to help keep it from drying out.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 784kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 47gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 146mgSodium: 1082mgPotassium: 709mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1345IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 425mgIron: 2mg

Keyword chicken pesto, creamy pesto sauce, pesto pasta

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