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Home · Recipes · Pasta · Chicken Pesto Pasta

Published: Jul 11, 2019 by Kelly Anthony · 14 CommentsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

Chicken Pesto Pasta

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Requiring only a few simple ingredients, this stress-free Chicken Pesto Pasta features tender bites of juicy chicken and a creamy Pesto Sauce that cooks quickly in one pan! Add the penne pasta, fresh grape tomatoes, and shards of Parmesan cheese, toss it all together, and you've got your new favorite fix for weeknight Italian fare.

It's a light pasta dinner simple enough for busy weeknights, yet beautiful enough for entertaining! Serve with homemade garlic bread and a side Caesar salad. 

Chicken Pesto Pasta in a saucepan with a clear glass bowl in the background with fresh tomatoes.

CHICKEN PESTO PASTA INGREDIENTS

  • Pasta - Penne is a great option for Chicken Pesto Pasta because of its tubular shape and ability to trap sauce within the noodle. However, Rigatoni and Farfalle would work as well!
  • Chicken - Chicken breasts cut up into 1" pieces cook on the stovetop and make this a quick and easy pasta dish to assemble! If you'd rather use dark meat, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a fine substitute. 
  • Basil Pesto - You can either make Basil Pesto from scratch or use a store-bought rendition. You'll likely find it in the international aisle with other imported Italian ingredients at your grocery store.
  • Cream - A little heavy cream gives this Pesto Chicken Pasta its creamy vibes!
  • Tomatoes - Tomatoes add a pop of freshness to this savory pasta dish. Grape tomatoes are a great choice as they tend to hold their shape when mixed with other ingredients and are superior in the flavor department, even in the off-season.
  • Parmesan - You can either purchase a wedge of Parmesan or Parmesan shavings for your Chicken Pesto Pasta! If you are using the wedge, simply use a vegetable peeler to make your own Parmesan shavings!

A close up shot of Chicken Pesto Pasta in a white bowl.

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN PESTO PASTA

  1. Cook the Pasta - Be sure to add a generous pour of salt to your water before cooking the pasta! Then, cook according to package directions, strain, and set aside.
  2. Prep the Chicken - Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Using a very sharp knife, cut the chicken into 1" slices across the grain. Next, cut the slices into 1" chunks of chicken. Transfer the chicken to a mixing bowl, drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Cook the Chicken - Add olive oil to a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and allow it to heat through before adding the chicken. Once the pan and oil are both hot, add the chicken and cook undisturbed on one side for about 2 minutes. Then, flip and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the heat and transfer to a plate. 
  4. Make the Sauce - To make the sauce for the Chicken Pesto Pasta, reduce the heat and add the basil pesto along with cream, salt, and pepper and stir to combine. 
  5. Assemble and Serve! - Add the pasta, grape tomatoes, and Parmesan to the pan, toss to combine, serve and enjoy!

Chicken Pesto Pasta served in a white bowl sitting on top of a wood cutting board.

5 MORE ITALIAN DINNERS YOU’LL LOVE

  • Chicken Marinara has all the flavor of Chicken Parmesan but requires only half of the prep work!  It combines two Italian favorites: Marinara sauce and melty mozzarella cheese, and they come together to spruce up boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a baked dish everyone adores. 
  • Chicken Scallopini with Piccata Sauce is an Italian restaurant classic with thinly sliced, golden chicken cutlets drenched in a buttery lemon sauce with capers.
  • Parmesan Crusted Chicken Tenders are baked with a crust of panko breadcrumbs and freshly grated Parmesan cheese! This is a healthy, Italian take on chicken tenders! Don’t forget marinara sauce on the side for dipping!
  • Shrimp and Pasta is a delicious angel hair pasta recipe with fresh tomatoes, capers, and shrimp cooked in a simple white wine butter sauce!
  • Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs is loaded with homemade meatballs baked in the oven and topped off with a simple marinara sauce!

Chicken Pesto Pasta in a skillet that is sitting on top of a woven wood placemat.

Chicken Pesto Pasta
Print Recipe
4.67 from 21 votes

Pesto Chicken Pasta

Chicken Pesto Pasta features juicy chicken and a creamy Pesto Sauce and cooks quickly in one pan! Toss in pasta, grape tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: Chicken Pesto Pasta
Servings: 4
Calories: 656kcal
Author: Kelly Anthony

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces (about half a package) penne pasta
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons (separated)
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt, separated
  • ¾ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ cup basil pesto
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup halved grape tomatoes
  • ¼ cup shaved Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta in salted water according to package directions, strain, and set aside until ready to use.
  • Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and slice into 1" strips, cutting against the grain. Then, cut into 1" pieces and transfer to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Drizzle with 2 teaspoons of oil and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and a ½ teaspoon of pepper. Stir until evenly coated with seasoning and set aside.
  • Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and allow to come to temperature. Add the chicken to the sauté pan and cook for 2 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for 3 minutes more, or until the chicken pieces are cooked through.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low and add basil pesto, cream, ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt and stir ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Add the pasta, grape tomatoes, and Parmesan to the pan and stir once more. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 656kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 120mg | Sodium: 1265mg | Potassium: 657mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1455IU | Vitamin C: 6.4mg | Calcium: 165mg | Iron: 1.5mg

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Comments

  1. Jenni LeBaron says

    July 27, 2019 at 3:15 pm

    We have 3 basil plants in our garden right now so I am loving anything with pesto at the moment. This looks absolutely gorgeous and I'm sure my whole house will love it!

    Reply
  2. Patty at Spoonabilities says

    August 07, 2019 at 6:53 pm

    This dish looks absolutely amazing! And I love that is all cooked in one pan!

    Reply
  3. Andrea Metlika says

    August 07, 2019 at 6:56 pm

    Penne Pasta sounds perfect in this dish with the chicken, tomatoes and Parmesan. Deliciousness!

    Reply
  4. Heidy L. McCallum says

    August 07, 2019 at 7:06 pm

    This has to be the best pasta recipe I have seen all day. I have been combing the net for something different yet flavorful. I think I found my winner! Bookmarking to make for dinner this coming week. I love Pesto over pasta!

    Reply
  5. Evelyne says

    August 07, 2019 at 7:06 pm

    Love pesto, especially when made fresh. Your light chicken pasta dinner looks so scrumptious and also perfect for hot summer dinners.

    Reply
  6. cheflolaskitchen says

    August 07, 2019 at 8:55 pm

    Looks so tempting! Surely getting my hands on it!

    Reply
  7. Katherine Hackworthy says

    December 20, 2019 at 1:23 pm

    This is such an awesome mid-week dinner. A real family-pleaser.

    Reply
  8. Julianne Zimmerman says

    December 20, 2019 at 2:06 pm

    Great recipe! Thanks for sharing! The family loved it.

    Reply
  9. Lisa Huff says

    December 20, 2019 at 2:46 pm

    My kids are going to love this Chicken Pesto Pasta! And I love how quick and easy it looks to make, perfect!

    Reply
  10. Caroline says

    December 20, 2019 at 3:00 pm

    Pesto and pasta is always a fallback meal for us - like the little additions to make a slightly fuller meal.

    Reply
  11. Emily Liao says

    December 30, 2019 at 10:49 pm

    I love how simple and easy this pesto pasta is to make! This will be on rotation in my house 🙂

    Reply
  12. Krissy Allori says

    December 31, 2019 at 12:49 am

    This is so good and so easy to make on a busy weeknight. My whole family enjoyed it.

    Reply
  13. Sara Welch says

    December 31, 2019 at 12:51 am

    This is everything a gourmet meal should be, and more! Definitely adding this to my meal line up for the week! Looks too good to pass up!

    Reply
  14. Sharon says

    December 31, 2019 at 1:04 am

    Pesto is one of my favorite sauces. This chicken pesto is a wonderful way to use it and make it into a meal.

    Reply
4.67 from 21 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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I’m Kelly Anthony — a baker, home chef, and mom with a passion for food and an adoration for entertaining.

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