Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta
A delightful combination of pesto and Alfredo sauce creates a rich and flavorful dish, enhanced with crispy seared chicken. The creamy sauce boasts nutty and herby notes, complemented by Parmesan cheese. It's a simple yet utterly satisfying meal that's sure to please.
Ingredients
- 5.5 ounces pasta shells or orecchiette
- 2 chicken fillets thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- ¾ cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan more for serving
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- toasted pine nuts for serving
Green pesto
- 1.5 ounces basil leaves
- 1.5 ounces toasted pine nuts
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling generously salted water, until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking water.
- Make the pesto. Combine the basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a food processor or blender. With the machine running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Continue blending until the pesto is well blended but still has some texture.
- Add olive oil and half of the butter to a deep nonstick skillet or pan, melt over medium heat. Add the chicken, season with salt and pepper, cook until the chicken is browned and crispy on the outside, about 5 minutes. Remove from skillet.
- Add the remaining butter to the skillet. Add garlic, sauté for 2 minutes. Pour cream and bring to a boil. Stir to dissolve any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Add pesto and cooked chicken. Season with extra black pepper. Toss in pasta and add Parmesan, stir until the cheese is melted. Add a splash of cooking water if needed. Remove the skillet from heat.
- Serve with grated Parmesan and toasted pine nuts. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 648kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 20gFat: 48gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 0.05gCholesterol: 118mgSodium: 314mgPotassium: 319mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1387IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 196mgIron: 1mg
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