Pesto Pasta with Chicken
Enjoy this Pesto Pasta with Chicken recipe! A quick, flavorful dish with juicy chicken and homemade pesto—perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
For the Pasta & Pesto:
- 12 oz pasta penne, fettuccine, or spaghetti
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Optional Add-Ins:
- Cherry tomatoes halved
- Fresh spinach leaves
- Red pepper flakes for heat
Instructions
Cook the Chicken
- Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Season chicken with garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Cook chicken for 6-7 minutes per side until golden brown and fully cooked.
- Remove from heat, let it rest, then slice into strips.
Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add pasta and cook according to package instructions.
- Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
Prepare the Pesto Sauce
- In a food processor, combine basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, and garlic.
- Pulse until finely chopped.
- Slowly add olive oil while blending until smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Combine Everything
- Toss cooked pasta with pesto sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed.
- Add sliced chicken and mix well.
- Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.