Chicken Pesto Pasta
A crowd-pleasing pasta dish that combines fresh flavors with minimal effort. The combination of tender chicken, al dente pasta, and vibrant homemade pesto creates a restaurant-worthy meal that's surprisingly easy to prepare at home.
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta or pasta of your choice
- 2 large chicken breasts diced into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- ½ cup pine nuts or walnuts as a budget-friendly alternative
- 3 cloves garlic peeled
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus extra for serving
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Cherry tomatoes for garnish optional
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil for the pasta.
- While waiting for the water, prepare the pesto. In a food processor, combine basil, pine nuts, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. Pulse until coarsely chopped.
- With the processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until the mixture is smooth. Add lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Set aside.
- Season the diced chicken with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook the chicken pieces until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Return the pasta to the pot, add the cooked chicken and pesto sauce. Toss everything together, adding pasta water as needed to create a silky sauce.
- Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and cherry tomatoes if desired.