Description
Pesto chicken pasta delivers Italian-inspired comfort with a luxurious blend of herbs, tender chicken, and al dente pasta. Creamy sauce and fresh basil elevate this simple dinner into a restaurant-quality meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 lb (454 g) boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 3 oz (85 g) cream cheese, cut into chunks
Pasta and Liquid Components:
- ½ lb (227 g) penne pasta
- 1.5 cups (355 ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) basil pesto
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
Herbs, Spices, and Optional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons (30 g) butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups fresh spinach, optional
- ¼ cup (30 g) sliced sun-dried tomatoes, optional
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper
Instructions
- Dice chicken into uniform bite-sized morsels, ensuring even cooking and tender texture.
- Melt butter in a spacious skillet over medium heat, gently browning chicken pieces until golden and slightly crisp on exterior.
- Introduce freshly minced garlic, allowing aromatic flavors to infuse with chicken for approximately one minute.
- Add uncooked penne directly into skillet, carefully pouring chicken broth to deglaze pan and lift caramelized bits from bottom.
- Bring liquid to rolling boil, then reduce heat, cover skillet, and allow pasta to simmer until perfectly tender and liquid mostly absorbed.
- Incorporate cream cheese, stirring until completely melted and creating silky smooth base for sauce.
- Blend pesto into developing sauce, ensuring even distribution of herbaceous green tones throughout dish.
- Gradually fold in milk, creating luxurious and creamy consistency.
- Sprinkle grated parmesan, whisking continuously to prevent clumping and promote seamless integration.
- Optional: Introduce fresh spinach leaves and chopped sun-dried tomatoes, allowing greens to gently wilt and ingredients to meld.
- Season generously with cracked black pepper and crushed red pepper for balanced heat and complexity.
- Transfer to serving dish immediately while piping hot, ensuring maximum flavor and optimal dining experience.
Notes
- Customize the heat level by adjusting red pepper flakes or swap chicken for shrimp or tofu for a personalized twist.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors continue to meld, making this dish perfect for meal prep enthusiasts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg