This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy
This Chicken Pesto Pasta is a fresh, flavorful, and satisfying dish made with tender chicken, your favorite pasta, and vibrant basil pesto. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing meal!
Chicken Pesto Pasta is the ultimate weeknight dinner. It is quick, super flavorful, and sure to please everyone at the table. With tender bites of chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, and the bright, herby goodness of basil pesto, this dish comes together in just minutes but tastes like something from your favorite Italian restaurant.
What You’ll Need
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
- Pasta- I use a short cut pasta like penne, rotini or bowtie pasta
- Chicken Breast – you could use chicken thighs if you prefer
- Olive Oil
- Pesto – store bought or homemade works great for this recipe
- Heavy Cream- you can use half and half if you want to cut down on the calories, your sauce will just be a little thinner
- Italian Seasoning
- Salt & Pepper
- Shredded Parmesan Cheese
How To Make Chicken Pesto Pasta
- Boil water. Put a pot of water on the stove to start boiling. Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
- Season the chicken. Cut the chicken breast into cubes and add it to a mixing bowl. Sprinkle the salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning over the chicken. Then, toss or mix to coat all of the cubes.
- Sauté chicken. Add oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer in the pan, add the chicken breast. Cook for 5-6 minutes, occasionally stirring until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through.
- Create the pesto sauce. Mix in the pesto and heavy cream to the skillet. Simmer the mixture for 3 minutes until thick and creamy.
- Drain and add the pasta. Strain the cooked pasta. Then, add the pasta to the skillet.
- Toss to coat & garnish. Use a large spoon to mix the pasta, pesto sauce, and chicken in the pan. Garnish the dish with shredded parmesan cheese, and get ready to dig in!
Recipe Tips
- Pasta. One of the best things about this recipe is how flexible it is. You can use any kind of pasta, like cavatappi or orzo, or try it with rice.
- Make Your Own Pesto. When I have extra time, I like to make my own pesto. It’s a great way to use up extra leafy greens in the fridge. I’ve made Spinach Pesto and Arugula Pesto, and they’re just as good (if not better) than the typical basil variety.
- Add Veggies. I often add halved cherry tomatoes and let them cook for a few minutes before adding the pesto. You could also add sun-dried tomatoes or extra sautéed veggies like summer squash or wilted spinach.
- No heavy cream? Use chicken broth instead of the cream in the recipe, and add your pasta to the skillet when it’s about 1-2 minutes shy of being fully cooked. This way, the pasta will finish cooking in the skillet and soak up some of the extra liquid. Then, if you still want a creamy texture, add ¼ block of cream cheese at the end and melt it into the skillet.
How To Serve
Check out these side dish ideas that will round out a meal with this Chicken Pesto Pasta (and still keep the effort to a minimum):
- Cheesy Garlic Bread – It’s ooey, gooey, and oh-so-delicious. You can never go wrong by pairing an Italian dish with an Italian side. Plus, you can use it to scoop up any leftover pesto sauce at the bottom of your bowl.
- Tomato Mozzarella Salad – This fresh and flavorful salad is light enough to compliment the creaminess of the Pesto Pasta. And the tomato, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic flavors pair exceptionally well with pesto.
- Simple Tossed Salad – Such an easy side dish that you can top with whatever dressings you have on hand and toppings you like. Great way to get the whole family to eat more vegetables.
More Easy Chicken Dinners
- Chicken Pot Pie Noodles
- Creamy Salsa Chicken
- Creamy Chicken & Rice
- Barbecue Chicken Nachos
- Buffalo Chicken Chili
Chicken Pesto Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz short cut pasta, cooked according to package directions
- 10 oz chicken breast, cut into small cubes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup pesto
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- salt and pepper to taste
- Shredded Parmesan Cheese to serve
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil and cool the pasta according to the package directions.8 oz short cut pasta
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.10 oz chicken breast, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste
- Heat large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil, swirling to coat. Add chicken and cook for 5-6 minutes until browned.2 teaspoon olive oil
- Mix in pesto and heavy cream, simmer for 3 minutes until it starts to thicken1/2 cup pesto, 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Add cooked and drained pasta, tossing to coat.
- Serve with shredded Parmesan cheese.Shredded Parmesan Cheese to serve
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I created a fun group on Facebook,and I would love for you to join us! It’s a place where you can share YOUR favorite recipes, ask questions, and see what’s new at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts (so that you never miss a new recipe)!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram and tag #dinnersdishes so I can see all the wonderful DINNERS, DISHES, AND DESSERTS recipes YOU make!
Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you never miss a post!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
.
Simple rules in our house, especially on crazy sports nights. Love having my whole meal in one bowl!
One of my kids felt the same way about pesto when he was little—thank goodness he outgrew that phase! This is a fabulous weeknight meal!
Easy comfort food for the win! Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner!
I’m always on board for anything that has pesto in it. I can’t wait to give this a try!
What a fantastic combination of ingredients. I cannot wait!
Such a fantastic pasta dish! I love the flavors!! A must make!
This is such an amazing dish! I can’t wait to try it!
I was really a huge hit at my house!! An easy meal perfect for weeknights!