Chicken Pesto Pasta
This simple, creamy chicken pesto pasta is tossed in a basil pesto cream sauce and ready in less than 20 minutes.
Servings: 4 servings
Equipment
- 1 large deep skillet
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb chicken cubed into bite sized pieces
- 250 grams bowtie pasta + 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 3/4 cup heavy cream/whipping cream 33%
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese finely grated
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- fresh basil optional, to garnish
Instructions
- Cook your pasta according to package directions, subtracting 1 minute from the cooking time so it stays al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.Set aside; it will finish cooking in the sauce.
- Grab your chicken and slice it into bite-sized pieces (about 1-inch cubes). Transfer to a bowl, season with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, dried oregano, and dried basil, and gently toss to combine.
- Place a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil.Once hot, add the chicken and fry on each side until golden and just about cooked through. (Don't worry if it’s not fully cooked through yet; it will finish cooking as it simmers in the sauce later.)
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside, leaving the oil and pan juices behind. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Pour in the heavy cream/whipping cream and turn the heat up to medium to bring it to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and let it simmer for a couple of minutes until slightly reduced.
- Add the parmesan cheese to the cream. Whisk continuously until fully incorporated and the sauce begins to bubble and slightly thicken.
- Once thickened, return the chicken and pasta to the sauce. Mix well to combine and let everything simmer for a moment to reheat through and finish cooking the chicken.
- Stir in the basil pesto, 1/4 cup of reserved pasta water, mixing until it breaks down and is completely incorporated into the sauce. Add more reserved pasta water if you want a thinner sauce.
- Remove from heat, serve immediately, and garnish with fresh basil if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 1637kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 152g | Saturated Fat: 49g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 26g | Monounsaturated Fat: 61g | Cholesterol: 158mg | Sodium: 652mg | Potassium: 206mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1505IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 247mg | Iron: 1mg
