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A close-up shot of creamy chicken pesto pasta featuring penne noodles, slices of golden-brown seasoned chicken breast, and vibrant green basil pesto sauce, garnished with fresh basil leaves and grated Parmesan cheese.

Best Chicken Pesto Pasta

A creamy, flavorful chicken pesto pasta loaded with fresh spinach, cherry tomatoes, and fragrant basil. A quick and delicious weeknight favorite!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Pasta
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 480
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz pasta (penne or fusilli)
  • 1 lb chicken breast sliced into strips
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 1/2 cup pesto sauce basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, no alcohol
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • fresh basil leaves for garnish

Equipment

  • Large Skillet
  • Pot

Method
 

  1. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken strips, seasoning with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  3. Sauté the chicken for 6–8 minutes until golden and fully cooked.
  4. Add the cherry tomatoes and spinach to the skillet and cook for 2–3 minutes until the spinach wilts.
  5. Stir in the pesto sauce and heavy cream, mixing until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
  6. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss well to coat.
  7. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and lemon juice, adjusting seasoning if needed.
  8. Let the pasta simmer for 2 minutes so the flavors blend beautifully.
  9. Garnish with fresh basil before serving.

Notes

For extra richness, add a tablespoon of butter when mixing the sauce.