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Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta - Easy Recipes for Dinner

This creamy chicken pesto pasta is a quick and delicious dinner option. Made with tender chicken, fresh basil pesto, and a rich, cheesy sauce, it’s perfect for busy weeknights.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dinners
Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: butter swim biscuits easy recipes, cheesey potatoes easy recipe, chicken stirfry easy recipe, easy recipes for dinner, easy recipes with ground beef, how to cook broccolini easy recipes, sweet easy recipes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Clara

Ingredients

  • 12 oz pasta (penne or fettuccine)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 chicken breasts, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup basil pesto
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • Fresh basil for garnish

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced chicken and cook until golden brown and fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes.
  3. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Reduce heat to medium, then pour in the heavy cream and stir in Parmesan cheese. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
  5. Stir in basil pesto, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
  6. Add cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat evenly in the sauce.
  7. Fold in cherry tomatoes and let them warm for 1 minute.
  8. Garnish with fresh basil and serve immediately.

Notes

For extra flavor, add sun-dried tomatoes or swap heavy cream for half-and-half. This dish pairs well with garlic bread.