Valentina Ablaev
Homemade pesto chicken pasta is the perfect comfort food that comes together in 30 minutes. Packed with fresh flavors, this dish features a creamy alfredo pesto sauce, and when complemented by pasta and chicken, it makes for a complete meal. This is a recipe that will have everyone coming back for second just like our creamy chicken pesto recipe.
Our classic pesto chicken pasta has been a crowd favorite for years! Yes, we all love a simple alfredo pasta, but thanks to homemade pesto sauce, this dish brings a new flavor profile that you won’t get enough of. Topped with extra cheese, this pasta recipe is worth a cheat day!
Though we love a classic alfredo pasta, we have so much fun creating alfredo variations. This pesto alfredo pasta joins our creamy mushroom pasta as some of our favorite alfredo variations.
What is Pesto?
Pesto is a sauce originating from Italy, known for its fresh flavors and smooth texture. Our homemade pesto recipe makes the best pesto from scratch. It features fresh basil complemented by the nutty taste of pine nuts. Adding freshly grated Parmesan cheese and whole garlic cloves enhances the flavor, and once you make pesto from scratch, you will never return to the store-bought versions.
Ingredients for Pesto Chicken Pasta
- Pasta – we use penne in this pasta recipe.
Substitute: Use your favorite pasta for this recipe! Rotini, ziti, rigatoni, and even linguine would all make a great substitute. - Chicken – this recipe uses pan-seared chicken breast strips for the perfect protein!
Substitute: Not a fan of chicken? Shrimp are a great alternative, just like in our shrimp alfredo pasta recipe! - Alfredo sauce – our easy homemade alfredo sauce makes the perfect base for this pasta recipe.
- Pesto – fresh basil pesto adds a bright and delicious flavor to this dish.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and quantities.
Is Pesto Healthy or Unhealthy?
Pesto is packed with so many flavorful ingredients, one of the main ones being olive oil. Pesto is a high-fat sauce rich in flavor and should be enjoyed in moderation.
How to Make Pesto Chicken Pasta
- Cook the pasta. In a large pot of salted water, boil the pasta according to package instructions. Drain the water, cover and set aside.
- Cook chicken. Pan-sear the seasoned chicken. Remove from the pan, and slice it into bite-sized pieces, cover to keep warm.
- Prepare pesto cream sauce. To the pan, add butter and garlic. Once the garlic is fragrant, add cream, flour, and milk and stir until smooth and combined. Keep the heat on low while adding in the shredded parmesan. Whisk in pesto sauce, along with salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer the sauce until it thickens.
- Combine. Add the chicken and cooked pasta to the sauce. Toss lightly to combine.
Pro Tips of the Day!
- From scratch is best. Though jarred alfredo sauce and pre-made pesto can be tempting, I suggest you take that extra step to make this sauce from scratch. I get it; we’ve all been there on a busy weeknight, but the flavors you get from the real thing are unmatched.
- Add veggies. Bulk up this pasta by adding vegetables! Cherry tomatoes, spinach, and even sauted mushrooms would a great flavor.
What Pairs with Pesto Pasta?
Though you can enjoy the pasta on its own, here are some great sides to try if you need to complete the meal.
- Appetizer: Start with a serving of crispy caprese bruschetta.
- Bread: Serve this pesto pasta with a homemade focaccia loaf!
- Salad: A homemade caprese salad is the perfect side to pair with this italian pesto pasta!
FAQ’s
Though we use chicken breast in this recipe, the results would be just as delicious with chicken thighs.
We use alfredo sauce, which has a heavy cream base, for this recipe. For a lighter sauce, you can use half and half.
This pesto chicken pasta is a delicious comfort meal with a rich, cheesy sauce. This dish isn’t the healthiest, but it is a tasty cheat meal!
Jarred pesto is an easy alternative to homemade pesto! I recommend picking a brand with clean, simple ingredients, resulting in the best possible flavor.
To make this dish healthier, you can use a protein pasta! In addition to that, make the alfredo sauce with whole milk rather than heavy cream. The sauce won’t be as rich but still delicious.
Store & Reheat
- Storage. Keep leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Reheat. Warm up leftovers in a pan over medium heat until warmed throughout.
- Freeze. To freeze pasta, store it in a freezer-safe container. Keep for up to 3 months for peak freshness. Reheat: Warm frozen pasta in a skillet over low-medium heat until warm.
More Pasta Recipes
If you enjoyed this pesto pasta recipe, be sure to try our other easy pasta recipes; here are some of our favorites:
If you tried this chicken pesto pasta recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below – we appreciate it!
Easy Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1 recipe pan seared chicken
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1 recipe pan seared chicken
sauce –
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup whole milk or 2%
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup basil pesto sauce
Instructions
- Boil the pasta in salted water according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and set aside to keep warm.
- Prepare one portion of our pan-seared chicken and set aside to cool. Slice the chicken into thin strips and set aside.
- In a deep skillet, melt the butter and add the minced garlic.
- Whisk together the cream and flour until no clumps remain.
- Add the cream and milk to the skillet and whisk until smooth.
- Keep the heat low-medium and add the parmesan cheese into the skillet while whisking. Whisk in the salt, pepper, and basil pesto.
- Cook on low until the pasta sauce thickness.
- Add the pasta and chicken to the skillet and toss to combine.
- Garnish with parmesan cheese, serve, and enjoy friends!
Notes
- Making sauce from scratch is worth the effort. Homemade sauces taste much better than store-bought options.
- If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
- Warm the leftover pasta in a pan over medium heat to reheat it.
- If you want to freeze pasta, use a freezer-safe container, where it will stay fresh for three months. Reheat frozen pasta in a skillet over low to medium heat.
