Chicken and Pesto Pasta

This 10 minute chicken and pesto pasta is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner or lunch.

Jump to:

• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🔪 How to make chicken and pesto pasta
• 🐓 Chicken
• 💭 Top tips
• 🥗 Serving suggestions
• 🍲 Leftovers
• 🍴 You might also like these recipes..
• 📋 Frequently asked questions
• Recipe

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Pasta with pesto is one of my favorite meals to just quickly throw together as a simple meal. By adding diced chicken breast, the meal is hearthier, rich in protein and a more filling main course.

The simplicity of this 3 ingredient recipe really can't be beat. And if you're looking for a more complex dish, it's so easy to add whichever ingredients you like. You can add fresh, roasted or sauteed vegetables, herbs, leafy greens, nuts & seeds or any other ingredients you prefer.

🥘 Ingredients

For this recipe you will need chicken breast fillets, pesto (buy your favorite, or make it yourself), pasta and garlic cloves.

Additionally, you will need cooking spray or vegetable oil for cooking, as well as salt and pepper for seasoning.

🔪 How to make chicken and pesto pasta

Add the pasta to boiling water and cook according to the instructions on the package. Most types of pasta will cook through in 3-10 minutes.

Meanwhile, grate the garlic, and finely dice the chicken. Heat some cooking spray or vegetable oil in a frying pan, then add the chicken. Cook until the chicken has barely cooked through, then add the garlic and saute for another minute. Set the chicken aside.

When the pasta has finished boiling, drain off the excess water. Add the pesto, chicken and garlic, and stir to combine. Serve the chicken and pesto pasta immediately while it's still hot.

🐓 Chicken

I prefer to make this dish with lean chicken breast fillets, but you can alternatively use chicken thigh fillets instead. Boneless chicken is definitely preferred, as you don't want any skins or bones in your pasta dish.

This is also a great recipe for using any leftover chicken! You can add leftover shredded slow cooker chicken or roasted chicken for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

💭 Top tips

Here's my best advice to make the perfect pesto and chicken pasta:

• Use your favorite pesto in this recipe! A high quality pesto will make all the difference, since that's where most of the flavor comes from.
• Cut the chicken into small bite sized pieces, and cook until it has barely cooked through. Try to make sure that the chicken is tender, and not dry.
• Serve this pasta with freshly grated parmesan, freshly ground black pepper or basil leaves. These toppings are commonly used with Italian dishes, and go really well with spaghetti.

🥗 Serving suggestions

You can serve this dish as is, or add fresh or roasted vegetables to it. Try adding cherry tomatoes, broccolini, green beans, rocket, roasted cauliflower or roasted chickpeas.

Alternatively, consider serving it with a side salad, such as tomato and cucumber salad or tomato and mozzarella salad.

🍲 Leftovers

Leftover chicken and pesto pasta can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. They can be served cold, or reheated in the microwave.

This recipe is absolutely perfect for meal prep. Make a big batch, and prepare lunches or dinners for the days to come.

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📋 Frequently asked questions

Is this recipe allergy friendly? - Consult the nutrition labels on the ingredients you use to make sure that they are suitable for your diet. This recipe is generally dairy free, soy free, nut free and egg free.

Can I make this without chicken? - Absolutely. Omit the chicken for a vegetarian version of the dish, or use a different kind of meat if you wish.

Recipe