Description
Basil Pesto Chicken Pasta is a quick, flavorful meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights or impressive weekend dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1 cup basil pesto
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped (optional)
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water (optional)
Instructions
- Begin by patting the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season each chicken breast generously with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
- Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat, place the seasoned chicken breasts in the pan and sear them for approximately 5–6 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil, add penne pasta and cook until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Reserve about 1/4 cup of the pasta water and drain the pasta.
- After the chicken has rested, slice it into strips or bite-sized pieces.
- In the same pot used to cook the pasta, toss the drained pasta with basil pesto and add reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
- Plate the pesto pasta, top it with sliced chicken, sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese, and garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired.
Notes
Ensure chicken is cooked through, and you can enhance the sauce with homemade pesto if time allows.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
Nutrition
- Calories: 540 kcal
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Protein: 30 g