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Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

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A quick and easy 30-minute dinner featuring tender chicken, creamy basil pesto sauce, and juicy cherry tomatoes for a satisfying and flavorful meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
  • 12 oz penne or fusilli pasta
  • 1 cup fresh cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil pesto (homemade or store-bought)
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: red pepper flakes for heat

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (about 9-11 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain pasta and set aside.
  2. Season chicken slices with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, avoiding browning.
  4. Stir in basil pesto and heavy cream. Bring to a gentle simmer and let sauce thicken slightly, about 3 minutes. Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if sauce is too thick.
  5. Return cooked chicken to the skillet and add drained pasta. Toss gently to coat with sauce.
  6. Add halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 1-2 minutes to warm while keeping their juiciness.
  7. Sprinkle grated Parmesan over the pasta and toss again. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
  8. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and fresh basil leaves if desired.

Notes

Avoid overcrowding the pan when cooking chicken to get a golden crust. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Sauté garlic just until fragrant to avoid bitterness. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and Parmesan with nutritional yeast.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy pesto chicken pasta, quick dinner, cherry tomatoes, basil pesto, easy pasta recipe, weeknight meal

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