Chicken Pesto Pasta
A quick and flavorful pasta dish combining tender chicken, fresh basil pesto, and creamy sauce for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Protein
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Kosher salt Kosher salt
- Black pepper Black pepper
Pasta
- 8 ounces penne pasta preferably with ridges
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes drained if packed in oil
- 1/2 cup basil pesto homemade or store-bought
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Garnish
- Handful torn basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Season chicken with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and reserve 1 cup of water.
- Cook chicken in olive oil until golden and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes.
- Combine chicken, pasta, cream, parmesan, and sun-dried tomatoes in the pan. Add pasta water if needed for sauce.
- Turn off heat, stir in pesto, then garnish with parmesan, red pepper flakes, and basil leaves. Serve.
Notes
For extra flavor, sprinkle additional parmesan or basil before serving.