Description
A comforting and elegant creamy pesto chicken penne, perfect for weeknights or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 2 boneless chicken breasts
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Extra Parmesan for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the penne according to package instructions in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- In a food processor, combine basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan, and olive oil. Blend until smooth, adding more olive oil if too thick.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil and sauté chicken until golden brown, about 6-7 minutes per side. Remove and let rest before slicing.
- In the same skillet, lower the heat and add heavy cream. Stir in pesto until smooth, adjusting with pasta water if necessary.
- Add cooked penne and sliced chicken to the skillet, toss to coat in the sauce, and heat through for about a minute.
- Serve garnished with extra Parmesan and cracked black pepper.
Notes
Feel free to substitute chicken thighs for a juicier option or use spinach in place of basil if fresh basil isn’t available.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: pasta, creamy pesto, chicken, family recipe, comfort food