Light Pesto Pasta With Chicken (Printable Version)
Tender chicken with fresh pesto and perfectly cooked pasta create a light, satisfying Italian meal.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 10.5 oz), cut into bite-sized pieces
→ Pasta
02 - 12 oz whole wheat or regular spaghetti or penne
→ Pesto
03 - 1.75 oz fresh basil leaves
04 - 2 tbsp pine nuts
05 - 2 garlic cloves, peeled
06 - 1.5 oz grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 2-3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
08 - Juice of ½ lemon
09 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ Vegetables
10 - 3.5 oz cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
11 - 1 handful baby spinach (optional)
→ Garnishes
12 - Extra grated Parmesan
13 - Fresh basil leaves
# How To Make:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/3 cup pasta water, then drain.
02 - In a food processor, blend basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Slowly drizzle in olive oil until a smooth pesto forms. Adjust seasoning to taste.
03 - Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken pieces and cook 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and cooked through. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Transfer to a plate.
04 - Add cherry tomatoes and spinach to the skillet and sauté 2 minutes until just softened.
05 - Reduce heat to low, return chicken to the skillet, and add drained pasta. Stir in pesto and a splash of reserved pasta water to create a light sauce that coats the pasta. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and basil.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Its the kind of dinner that makes you feel like youve put in real effort but actually comes together in the time it takes to boil water
- The pesto creates this incredible creamy sauce without needing any heavy cream at all
02 -
- That pasta water you saved is liquid gold, the starch in it helps the pesto cling to every strand of pasta instead of pooling at the bottom
- Pesto darkens quickly once exposed to air, so if you're not serving immediately, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to keep it vibrant green
03 -
- If making this ahead, undercook the pasta by a minute since it will continue absorbing sauce as it sits
- The pesto freezes beautifully in ice cube trays, which means weeknight dinners become almost suspiciously easy