Description
Indulge in a creamy and flavorful dish with this Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta recipe. Tender chicken, al dente penne pasta, and a luxurious pesto cream sauce come together for a satisfying meal that’s easy to make.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Penne Pasta:
- 1/2 pound Penne pasta, about 2 1/2 cups dry (half of a one pound box)
Chicken:
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 2 Garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 pound Boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized chunks
- Salt and pepper to taste
Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons Butter
- 3 tablespoons All-purpose flour
- 1 cup Chicken broth
- 1 cup Half and half or all milk/cream
- 1/2 cup Freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 cup Freshly shredded Mozzarella
- 1/2 cup Basil pesto, or more to taste
- Fresh basil for garnish, if desired
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Cook the penne pasta to al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Cook Chicken: In a skillet, sauté garlic, Italian seasoning, and chicken until cooked through. Set aside.
- Make Sauce: Melt butter in the skillet, whisk in flour, then add chicken broth and half & half. Simmer until thickened.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir in pesto and cheeses. Add cooked pasta and chicken, mix well.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh basil and black pepper. Serve hot.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
