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Irresistible Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe for Comfort Food Lovers

Irresistible Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe for Food Lovers

Indulge in this Irresistible Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta, a quick and customizable dish perfect for comfort food lovers.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta
  • 8 ounces Penne or Fusilli
For the Chicken
  • 2 pieces Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
For the Pesto Sauce
  • 2 cups Fresh Basil Look for bright green leaves
  • 3 cloves Garlic Cloves Aim for firm, unblemished cloves
  • 1/4 cup Pine Nuts Walnuts can be a substitute
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese Grated
  • 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil Use high-quality olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice Freshly squeezed
To Serve
  • to taste Cracked Black Pepper Sprinkle for flavor
  • to taste Extra Parmesan For garnishing

Equipment

  • Skillet
  • Pot
  • food processor

Method
 

Cooking Steps
  1. Prep Ingredients: Rinse the fresh basil and peel the garlic cloves.
  2. Cook Pasta: Boil salted water and cook penne or fusilli until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
  3. Sauté Chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet, season chicken, and sauté for about 6 minutes per side.
  4. Blend Pesto: In a food processor, combine basil, garlic, pine nuts, parmesan, and lemon juice. Add olive oil while pulsing.
  5. Combine Ingredients: Toss drained pasta with chicken and pesto in the skillet, adding reserved pasta water as needed.
  6. Serve: Plate pasta and garnish with cracked black pepper and extra parmesan.

Notes

This dish is customizable; feel free to add vegetables or change proteins to suit your preferences.