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Pesto Chicken Pasta Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 650
A quick and flavorful pasta dish combining tender chicken, fresh basil pesto, and cherry tomatoes for a satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Pasta

  • 12 ounces pasta such as penne or fusilli

Chicken

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Oil

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Garlic

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

Salt

  • 0.5 teaspoon salt

Black Pepper

  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Pesto Sauce

  • 1 cup basil pesto sauce (homemade or store-bought)

Pasta Water

  • 0.25 cup pasta cooking water, reserved

Parmesan Cheese

  • 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cherry Tomatoes

  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

Fresh Basil

  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

Instructions 

  • Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, then reserve ΒΌ cup of water and drain.
  • Heat olive oil in a skillet, cook chicken with salt and pepper until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
  • Add garlic to skillet and cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
  • Reduce heat, add cooked pasta, pesto, and reserved water; toss to coat evenly.
  • Stir in Parmesan, fold in cherry tomatoes, garnish with basil, and serve warm.

Notes

For extra flavor, sprinkle additional Parmesan or fresh basil before serving.
Calories: 650kcal
Cost: $15
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: chicken, Pasta, Pesto