Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta
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We usually don’t sit at the dinner table unless we have guests over. It’s the couch, a napkin and dig in. So typically the meals are such that a knife isn’t necessary, like for this Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta. It’s one of our go-to favorites.
Dave’s not a fan of tomatoes or red marinara sauce (I know, gasp!), but pesto he likey. With some quickly browned chicken I cut into chunks, some sautéd mushrooms and onion, a simple deglaze of the pan with chicken stock, pesto and some cream are added to make a smooth sauce that smothers the pasta. Sound good? It’s sure to please and is quick to make.
The other evening I made fresh pesto since the basil plant I had in the kitchen stayed alive, thanks to Les for watering it! Gratefully he house sat for us last week and kept the boys company.
The aroma from the homemade pesto was so powerful. Fresh is always best to me, but feel free to grab some already made from the market. Sometimes I mix it up with the nuts I add, sometimes pine nuts other times walnut or cashew. The traditional pesto is used in this one with fresh basil, pine nuts, kosher salt, garlic, Parmesan cheese and olive oil.
We ate out quite a bit last week in Maui and some meals at home that are familiar and comforting were definitely in order. I had mushrooms on hand and did a quick sauté of them with diced onion to make this an all-in-one meal.
This isn’t a heavy alfredo sauce based dinner. After deglazing the pan with chicken stock, which picks up all the sautéed bits and pieces of the browned chicken that were lightly floured, the sauce thickens and with the pesto and cream you have a killer, flavorful sauce to pour over or toss with cooked pasta and the chicken.
I added some fresh little cherry tomatoes for me and this ended up being another satisfying dinner at home. This is a great meal for four or double for a large group with salad.
Speaking of doubling this for a large group, Dave had some guys coming over for dinner in a few days and asked this one to be the dinner. Hence most of these shots are in a 13×9″ baking dish. I wanted him to be able to re-heat this later when I was out. Otherwise this gets eaten right out of the skillet, fresh and hot!
With the dogs Oliver and Kodi, some DVR’d shows and fresh figs for dessert, it was great to be home again.
The fig tree is off the hook with ripening figs. More on them to come. Enjoy!
Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts chopped
- 2 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 1 cup pesto
- 1/2 cup half and half cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese optional
- 3 cups cooked penne pasta
- 1 cup small cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry the chicken. Cut into 1-inch pieces and toss with salt and flour to coat.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat add the oil and sauté the chicken. Turn to brown on all sides. Add more oil if needed. Transfer to a platter and keep warm (See Note 1).
- Add the diced onion and sauté for two minutes. Add the sliced mushrooms and continue to cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the chicken stock and deglaze the pan by scrapping up bits of browned food on bottom of pan and bring to a boil. Add the pesto (reserving 2 tablespoons) and lower heat to simmer. Stir to incorporate and add the cream (See Note 2). Allow to reduce and thicken for several minutes. Add the chicken and platter juices back to the pan and toss to coat.
- Add the cooked pasta, tomatoes and stir. Serve warm with reserved pesto on top.
Notes
- I place the platter in the microwave to stay warm, but don't turn it on.
- Adding the half cup of Parmesan cheese is optional, but adds a richness that's so good to the sauce.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Absolutely delicious
So glad you enjoyed this one Shan. Appreciate you taking the time to come back and let me know! 🙂
Made this last night and it was delicious. I also love the name of the website! 🙂
Nice! Thanks for taking the time to come back and let me know Kevin. Cheers! 🙂
This was DELISH!!! We loved it!!!
Reading comments like this always make me smile! Thanks so much for coming back and letting me know Janet.
Drooling over here! Looks delicious! Creamy pesto… ooo la la! Going to try some of these delish chicken recipes!
Thanks for stopping by, gotta love browned chicken and creamy pesto covered pasta, right?! Have a great weekend.
This looks excellent! We’re totally the eat-on-the-sofa types too. When we feel fancy (i.e. there’s a large chance the sofa will be destroyed if I spill the meal in question), we eat at the counter on the bar stools. We actually didn’t bother getting a dining/kitchen table when we moved to our new place last year. Still don’t need one. Sorry not sorry 😉
Agree, the dining room table is basically used just for taking these shots on the site. 🙂
I just find it difficult to sit on the couch and cut things so I cut and prep in the kitchen and sit and eat. No fuss! Thanks for stopping by Natasha!
I can’t with that pesto picture! Okay – so this has all the things I love and the ‘couch, napkin and dig in’ is just the frosting on the cake! Wonderful recipe, yet again, my friend!!
Thanks Annie! Can’t go wrong with pesto and chicken, right?
Pasta with traditional pesto is always a good idea – comfort and delicious! Also, I’ve been craving for sun-dried tomatoes pesto pasta for a while. However, Andrey like Dave isn’t a huge fan of tomatoes in pasta, so I will enjoy it all by myself:)
That’s what I do Ben, whenever I know I have a meal to myself it’s most often a tomato sauce kinda meal. Though creamy pesto, come on, all I need is some crusty french bread and I’d call it dinner! 🙂
Hey Kevin! The only time we eat in the dining room is when we have company on holidays, the rest of the time it’s the couch with the big leather hassock for a table (one dog on each side)! My basil has done really well this summer so I’m thinking pesto is coming soon. Our figs are prolific too, although not ripe yet. For some reason I have been on a pasta binge lately, I bought four different ones just the other day! And it has not even begun to get cold here! Guess I’m storing extra calories early in anticipation of our “cold” winter! 🙂
You’re not going to hibernate on us are you?! I need to keep the pasta less and more grains here with Dave, but when I do it’s usually wheat pasta as it breaks down slower (with him being a Type II Diabetic). Fig recipes are in full test mode! Have a great Dorothy!
Whaaaaaa?! Dave doesn’t like tomatoes or red marinara sauce? Gasp indeed! Sounds like my sister! It always just meant more for me! I’m glad he at least like pesto, because if he didn’t I would have to give him some shift eyed stares! 😉 This chicken pasta looks seriously scrumptious, Kevin! LOVE that thick and creamy pesto sauce! With a bit of sauteed ‘shrooms, tender chicken and tomatoes to boot – heaven! I’ll happily eat this at our kitchen counter — because we don’t do the table thing either. 😉 Cheers, buddy!
Crazy right, BUT he will eat salsa? Go figure. I gave up trying on the tomato front there. 🙂 Thanks Chey! #couchdiningwins
So funny , isn’t it, when you travel and are eating out so often and you just can’t wait to get home to a home cooked meal!! We haven’t had much luck growing basil at all, but just picked up a couple plants the other day to give it another go. Inside for us because it is started to get cooler out and I know they won’t last.
I absolutely love pesto and yours looks delish! I could put pesto on just about anything from pasta to eggs to a sandwich. So good!
I would love to have a fig tree like you. We only see them fresh around here about once a year and they are sub par at best! Send me some, will ya 😉 ?
You guys sound a lot like us- lots of informal eating, furry child by our side and tv on. Wouldn’t change a thing 🙂
Have a great week, my friend! Cheers!
YES! No garden for me as I have two 4 legged eating machines. Did I ever tell you they ate my 6 jalapeño plants once?! Pesto is that wonderful spread or sauce, perfect on so many things. Sadly the critters and birds love my fig tree too, so I need to grab them daily if I make it to the good ones first. 🙂 Wish we were neighbors Dawn!