Description
Creamy pesto chicken pasta cooked in a stainless steel skillet combines tender chicken, rich cream sauce, and aromatic basil pesto for a satisfying and flavorful main course meal perfect for any weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 16 oz. penne pasta, cooked al dente
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt, or to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 7 oz. basil pesto
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Season chicken: In a bowl, season the cubed chicken breasts with Italian seasoning, onion powder, coarse sea salt, and pepper. Mix well to coat evenly.
- Sear chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and sear until golden brown and fully cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and place on a plate; set aside.
- Sauté garlic: Reduce heat to medium and melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in the same skillet. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Make sauce: Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the skillet bottom. Stir to combine and bring the sauce to a gentle boil.
- Add cheeses: Lower heat to medium-low. Gradually add Parmesan and mozzarella cheese in small batches, stirring continuously until the cheeses melt smoothly into the cream sauce.
- Simmer sauce: Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Stir occasionally and simmer the sauce until slightly thickened, approximately 8 minutes.
- Combine pasta and chicken: Add the cooked penne pasta, seared chicken with its plate juices, and basil pesto to the skillet. Stir well to coat the pasta and chicken fully with the creamy pesto sauce.
- Serve: Dish the creamy pesto chicken pasta onto plates and serve hot. Enjoy your flavorful meal!
Notes
- Add the pesto just before serving to preserve its fresh aroma and flavor; heating pesto can cause it to turn brown and develop a bitter taste.
- Include fresh vegetables like baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, or mushrooms for added flavor and nutrition.
- For a richer sauce, mix in a few tablespoons of cream cheese.
- Add crushed red pepper flakes to introduce a spicy kick.
- Replenish reheated leftovers with fresh pesto to restore flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
