Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Tender chicken and pasta in a rich basil pesto cream sauce with Parmesan cheese.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta & Proteins

01 - 12 oz penne or fettuccine pasta
02 - 2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Sauces & Dairy

03 - 2 tbsp olive oil
04 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 cup heavy cream
07 - 1/3 cup basil pesto
08 - 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

→ Vegetables & Seasoning

09 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
11 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - Boil pasta in salted water until al dente per package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
02 - Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, sauté 6-8 minutes until golden and cooked through. Transfer to plate.
03 - Reduce skillet heat to medium. Melt butter and sauté garlic 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Pour in heavy cream and bring to gentle simmer. Add pesto and Parmesan, stirring until cheese melts and sauce is smooth.
05 - Return chicken to skillet. Add pasta and cherry tomatoes. Toss to coat in sauce. Add pasta water if too thick. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with Parmesan and fresh basil.

# Expert Hacks:

01 -
  • The heavy cream and pesto create an incredibly velvety sauce that clings to every curve of pasta
  • You get restaurant quality results without needing any fancy techniques or hours of prep time
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day, if they even make it that far
02 -
  • The reserved pasta water is your secret weapon for adjusting sauce consistency without diluting the flavor
  • Room temperature cream prevents the sauce from breaking when you add it to the hot pan
  • Grating your own Parmesan takes an extra two minutes but changes the entire texture of your sauce
03 -
  • Pat your chicken completely dry before searing for the best golden crust
  • Add a splash of pasta water if your sauce tightens up after sitting for even a minute
  • Toasted pine nuts sprinkled on top add incredible texture and make the dish look extra fancy

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