If you’re looking for a quick and flavorful dinner idea, this chicken pasta with pesto sauce is a total winner. This creamy, comforting dish comes together in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you want something homemade without spending hours in the kitchen. The chicken pasta with pesto sauce combines juicy seasoned chicken, colorful bell peppers, and a rich, herby pesto cream sauce that fills your kitchen with an irresistible aroma. It’s simple, satisfying, and guaranteed to become a family favorite.
Method
Cook the Chicken
To begin, take a large deep skillet or pot and add 1 tablespoon of oil. Set the heat to high and add your bite-sized chicken breast pieces to the pan. Season the chicken with 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of onion powder. Let the chicken cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it’s fully cooked and no longer pink on the inside. Once the chicken is nicely browned and cooked through, remove it from the skillet and set it aside on a plate. Don’t worry if it’s not completely golden it’ll go back in later and soak up all the creamy flavor!
Sauté the Veggies
In the same skillet (no need to wash it we want all those tasty bits!), melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add your thinly sliced bell peppers, diced onion, and minced garlic. Sauté everything together for about 3 minutes, just until the vegetables start to soften and become fragrant. The bell peppers will brighten in color, and the onion should start turning translucent. Be sure to stir often so nothing sticks or burns.
Mix It All Together
Now it’s time to bring all the goodness together. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet with the sautéed veggies. Then add the uncooked pasta right into the pan yes, you read that right, no need to boil it separately! Pour in 2 cups of chicken broth and 2 1/2 cups of heavy cream to create the base of the sauce. Add in 3/4 cup of pesto and sprinkle in the rest of your seasonings: 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of onion powder. Carefully give everything a big stir so that the pasta is mostly covered with the liquid and everything is evenly mixed throughout the skillet. Make sure the pasta is spread out and not clumped in one spot this helps it cook evenly.
Cook the Pasta
Turn up the heat and bring the entire mixture to a gentle boil. Once it starts bubbling, cover the skillet with a lid, reduce the heat to medium-low, and let it cook for 12 to 15 minutes. About halfway through (around the 6-7 minute mark), remove the lid and give everything a gentle stir. This step is important to keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan. After stirring, smooth the mixture out again and cover it to finish cooking. By the end of the cooking time, the pasta should be perfectly tender and have soaked up all that creamy, herby pesto flavor.
Add the Cheese
Once the pasta is fully cooked and the sauce has thickened, turn off the heat. Sprinkle in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and stir everything gently to melt the cheese into the sauce. It will make the dish even creamier and add a nutty, salty depth that brings the whole dish together. If you’d like, you can top it all off with a handful of freshly chopped basil for a pop of color and even more fresh flavor.
Necessary Tools
- Large deep skillet or pot with a lid
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Stirring spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Grater (for the Parmesan)
Chicken Pasta with Pesto Sauce
Cuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy6
servings15
minutes30
minutes45
minutesIngredients
1 lb DeLallo Tortiglioni pasta (or rigatoni)
1 1/2 lb chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 cups chicken broth
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
2 medium bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange), thinly sliced
1/2 onion, diced
45 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
3/4 cup pesto
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp salt
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp oil
Directions
- Cook the Chicken
Add oil to a large skillet over high heat. Toss in the chicken pieces and season with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp onion powder. Cook for about 5 minutes until it’s no longer pink. Take it out and set it aside. - Sauté the Veggies
In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add the bell peppers, onion, and garlic. Cook them for about 3 minutes until they’re soft and smelling super yummy. - Mix It All Together
Add the chicken back in, then pour in the pasta, pesto, chicken broth, heavy cream, and the rest of the seasonings: 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp onion powder. Give everything a good stir and spread it out evenly in the skillet. - Cook the Pasta
Bring the mixture to a boil. Then cover it with a lid, lower the heat to medium-low, and cook for 1215 minutes. About halfway through, stir the pasta gently, spread it back out, and re-cover. - Add the Cheese
Once the pasta is fully cooked, turn off the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese. Give it a good mix until it’s nice and melty. Garnish with fresh basil if you’d like!
Notes
- Grate your Parmesan fresh it melts better than the pre-shredded kind.
- Make sure the chicken is fully cooked before mixing it with the sauce again.
- Use medium-low heat after boiling too high and the sauce might burn or dry out.
- Don’t skip stirring the pasta halfway through cooking this keeps it from sticking to the bottom.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with garlic bread or crusty toast to scoop up all that creamy sauce.
- Add a simple green salad on the side for a fresh crunch.
- Sprinkle some red pepper flakes for a little spicy kick!
Fun Fact
Did you know that pesto comes from the Italian word “pestare,” which means “to pound”? That’s because the original pesto sauce was made by crushing fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, and cheese with a mortar and pestle. Now we blend it, but it still tastes just as amazing!
Conclusion
And there you have it, an easy, creamy, and flavor-packed chicken pasta with pesto sauce that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re cooking for a weeknight dinner or a cozy weekend meal, this recipe delivers comfort and bold flavor in every bite. The chicken pasta with pesto sauce is not only simple to prepare but also a crowd-pleaser that you’ll want to make again and again. Give it a try, and enjoy a homemade meal that tastes as if it came straight from a restaurant kitchen.
