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    Easy Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe | Cooked In One Pan In 20 Minutes

    by Brendan Cunningham 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This chicken pesto pasta recipe combines tender chicken breast with al dente cooked pasta and a creamy pesto sauce that's overflowing with flavor. Honestly, this is hands down the easiest one pan pasta recipe that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Best of all, it only takes 20 minutes from start to finish to make!

    Chicken pesto pasta on a white plate. A second plate of pesto chicken pasta is in the background.

    Table of Contents

    • The Best Chicken Pesto Pasta
      • Ingredients
        • How to Make Homemade Pesto
      • How To Make Chicken Pesto Pasta
        • Step 1: Cook The Chicken 
        • Step 2: Add The Pasta
        • Step 3: Make The  Creamy Pesto sauce
        • Step 4: Serve The Chicken Pesto Pasta
      • How To Store Chicken Pesto Pasta
        • How To Reheat Chicken Pesto Pasta
      • FAQs About This Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe
        • Do you heat pesto before putting on pasta?
        • How do you use pesto sauce for pasta?
      • Wrapping It Up
    • More Pasta Recipes
    • Easy Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe | Cooked In One Pan In 20 Minutes
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Nutrition
      • Did you make this recipe?

    The Best Chicken Pesto Pasta

    One-pan recipes always just seem to taste better. And that's especially true when they combine perfectly paired ingredients - like pesto sauce, seasoned chicken, and pasta.

    Plus, who doesn't love how easy one-pan recipes are to clean up? I know I sure do.

    Also, another thing I love about this chicken pesto pasta is how quick it is to make. The entire cooking process requires following just 4 simple steps. And, as I mentioned just a second ago, those should only take you about 20 minutes to follow. So this pesto pasta with chicken is terrific for busy weeknights or for whenever you want a restaurant-worthy meal without having to spend too much time in the kitchen.

    By the way, while this creamy pesto chicken pasta is absolutely delish on its own, it's even better paired with some sides. I like to make these crack green beans or this Little Caesars crazy bread when I make it. They really are the perfectly compliment to this pesto pasta.

    Chicken pesto pasta on a white plate with a fork on the plate. A second plate of pesto chicken pasta is in the background.

    Ingredients

    This recipe for creamy chicken pesto pasta is made with all common ingredients and you probably have most - if not all - of them at home already.

    Anyway, here's everything you'll need to make this recipe:

    • ½ lb. chicken breasts, skinless, boneless
    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • ½ tsp garlic paste
    • ¾ cup chicken broth
    • 6 oz. penne pasta
    • ½ cup milk
    • 2 oz. cream cheese
    • 2 tbsp basil pesto
    • 3 sun-dried tomatoes, sliced or chopped
    • Salt and pepper, to taste
    • 2 tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese

    So, hopefully, you have a few of these at home already. If not, a quick trip to the store is well worth it.

    And you can use some of these ingredients to make some more of my delicious pasta recipes like this Olive Garden chicken pasta and shrimp pasta next. So don't be afraid to stock up on 'em if you are missing a few. You can always put the extras to good use by making those recipes.

    By the way, if you're looking for a delicious chicken recipe that you can make using some of these ingredients, you'll definitely want to check out my super popular marry me chicken.

    An assortment of ingredients to make pesto chicken pasta including raw chicken, penne pasta, chicken broth, cream cheese, pesto, and seasonings.

    How to Make Homemade Pesto

    Now, just so you know, you can use store-bought pesto or homemade pesto for this recipe. If you want to make your own pesto, here are the ingredients you'll need:

    • 1 cup fresh basil leaves
    • 1 tbsp fresh garlic
    • ¼ cup fresh parmesan cheese
    • ¼ cup pine nuts
    • ¼ cup olive oil

    To make pesto from scratch, simply blend all of the ingredients in a food processor until smooth but still chunky. With that said, you may need to scrape down the side of the food processor halfway through. 

    Skillet with cooked chicken breast cut into chunks.

    How To Make Chicken Pesto Pasta

    As I've said, this one pan creamy chicken and pasta dish takes only about 20 minutes - and that's including prep time. And, again, the entire process really couldn't be any easier.

    You just cook the chicken, add the chicken broth and penne pasta, then add the creamy pesto sauce ingredients. That's pretty much all there is to it!

    Anyway, let's not waste another second and jump into how to make chicken pesto pasta. 

    Skillet with cooked chicken and sundried tomatoes.

    Step 1: Cook The Chicken 

    Begin by heating your olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

    Then, season the chicken with salt and pepper, and add the chicken to the skillet. Cook the chicken for about 4 minutes - until golden brown - and then flip and cook on the other side for another 4 minutes.

    Skillet with cooked chicken and penne pasta freshly added.

    Step 2: Add The Pasta

    Next, add the garlic paste and sun-dried tomatoes and cook for about 2 minutes.

    Now, after we've cooked those, we're going to cook the pasta. To do this, add the chicken stock and penne pasta to the skillet. Then, cover it with a lid and cook until the pasta is al dente. You can refer to the package directions for specific cooking times.

    Skillet with pesto chicken pasta ingredients, pesto and cream cheese freshly added.

    Step 3: Make The  Creamy Pesto sauce

    So, now it's time to make the creamy pesto sauce.

    First, wait until most of the stock has evaporated, then add the milk, cream cheese, and pesto. Then, give everything a stir and cook until the cream cheese has melted.

    To finish up, add the grated parmesan cheese and give it one final stir. 

    Pesto chicken pasta in a skillet topped with parmesan cheese.

    Step 4: Serve The Chicken Pesto Pasta

    Finally, serve this chicken pesto pasta warm. You can top it off with some grated parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes if you want to add some spice.

    Enjoy!

    Chicken pesto pasta on a white plate with a fork on the plate. A second plate of pesto chicken pasta is in the background.

    How To Store Chicken Pesto Pasta

    This recipe for chicken pesto pasta will make about 2 servings. So, if you're planning on serving this for a big family dinner, you'll want to double - or triple - the recipe. And while this dish tastes great fresh, dare I say it makes for even better leftovers. 

    In fact, this is one of my favorite pasta recipes for meal prep. I make it on Sunday and have it for the week. The best part is I don't have to spend my whole Sunday in the kitchen!

    Speaking of leftovers, you can store your leftover chicken pesto pasta in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    However, to keep it for longer, you can also easily freeze your pesto chicken pasta for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container.

    How To Reheat Chicken Pesto Pasta

    To reheat your pesto chicken pasta, I recommend cooking it again on the stovetop. Just put the leftovers in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of broth and cook for about 5 minutes, constantly stirring to make sure it reheats evenly.

    Alternatively, you can also reheat your dish in the oven set to 350°F for about 10 minutes or until thoroughly warm.

    2 plates of pesto chicken pasta, with a fork on each plate.

    FAQs About This Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe

    Do you heat pesto before putting on pasta?

    You do not need to heat pesto before putting it on pasta. You can add room-temperature pesto to cooked pasta and toss it in while the pasta is still warm. However, this recipe heats the pesto along with the rest of the ingredients, making for an extra creamy sauce.

    How do you use pesto sauce for pasta?

    My favorite way to use pesto sauce for pasta is by combining it with other complementary ingredients, just like in this recipe! You can also just cook pasta and anything else you want - like some veggies - and add the pesto sauce to it. Then, just give everything a mix, and dinner is served. 

    Chicken pesto pasta on a white plate. A second plate of pesto chicken pasta is in the background.

    Wrapping It Up

    Well, that is how to make chicken pesto pasta.

    Who knew making homemade chicken pasta could be so easy? Just a few common kitchen ingredients, a little prep work, one pan, and 15-20 minutes are all that it takes!

    This dish is fast, makes little mess, and can be easily enjoyed all week long as lunch or served for an easy weeknight dinner. And it has such a rich flavor to it that your family will think you spent all day making it! 

    As always, if you give this recipe a try, leave a comment below and tell us all about it!

    And, for more easy recipes just like this one check us out on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

    More Pasta Recipes

    Craving more easy pasta recipes? If you are, we have a ton on the blog I think you'll love!

    Check out some of our most popular easy pasta recipes:

    • Luca pasta
    • Parmesan noodles
    • Creamy salmon pasta
    • Olive Garden chicken alfredo
    • Cheesecake Factory four cheese pasta
    • Cheesecake Factory pasta carbonara
    Print

    Easy Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe | Cooked In One Pan In 20 Minutes

    Chicken pesto pasta on a white plate with a fork on the plate. A second plate of pesto chicken pasta is in the background.
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 2 reviews

    This chicken pesto pasta recipe combines tender chicken breast with al dente cooked pasta and a creamy pesto sauce that's overflowing with flavor. Honestly, this is hands down the easiest one pan pasta recipe that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Best of all, it only takes 20 minutes from start to finish to make!

    • Author: Brendan Cunningham
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 2 servings 1x
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Pasta

    Ingredients

    Scale

    ½ lb. chicken breasts, skinless, boneless

    1 tbsp olive oil

    ½ tsp garlic paste

    ¾ cup chicken broth

    6 oz. penne pasta

    ½ cup milk

    2 oz. cream cheese

    2 tbsp basil pesto

    3 sun-dried tomatoes, sliced or chopped

    Salt and pepper, to taste

    2 tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese

    Instructions

    1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
    2. Add chicken and season it with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken until golden (about 4 minutes per side).
    3. Add garlic paste and sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes.
    4. Add chicken stock and penne pasta. Cover with a lid and cook until the pasta is al dente. 
    5. Once most of the stock is evaporated, add milk, cream cheese, and pesto. Cook until the cream cheese is melted.
    6. Add grated parmesan and give it a final stir.
    7. Serve the pasta warm. 

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 424
    • Fat: 21
    • Carbohydrates: 20
    • Protein: 38

    Keywords: chicken pesto pasta, chicken pesto pasta recipe, pesto chicken pasta, pesto chicken pasta recipe, how to make chicken pesto pasta, how to make pesto chicken pasta, chicken pesto pasta with sun dried tomatoes, chicken pesto pasta recipe easy, chicken pesto pasta recipe for 2, easy chicken pesto pasta, best chicken pesto pasta, creamy chicken pesto pasta, creamy chicken pesto pasta recipe

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag us @ImHungryForThat — we can't wait to see what you've made!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sofia

      October 24, 2022 at 9:22 pm

      This pasta is cray cray good!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Carly

      October 25, 2022 at 3:45 pm

      Just a phenomenal pesto sauce. Well done.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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