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If you’ve got 20 minutes, then you’ve got time to make this basil pesto chicken pasta. It’s loaded with sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli, and tossed in a fresh homemade basil pesto. This will be an instant family favorite and be on regular dinner rotation!
Fresh and Flavorful: Pesto Chicken Pasta
Just like my other simple weeknight pasta meals (Sloppy Joe Mac and Cheese, Cajun Chicken Alfredo Pasta, and One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta), this pesto chicken pasta is impressively easy and filled with nutritious ingredients to satisfy. The chicken gives a great protein-boost to this pesto chicken pasta in addition to all the vegetables! Sun-dried tomatoes are one of my favorite ingredients to use as they’re so flavorful and I love their chewy and soft texture. It really helps to elevate the dish.
Have an abundance of fresh basil? Make homemade basil pesto and use it in this pesto chicken pasta dish! Honestly, you can’t beat how fresh homemade pesto is. The orecchiette pasta are like little “cups” that catch the pesto so you have some in every bite!
Pesto Chicken Pasta Recipe Variations
- Make this vegetarian. Omit the chicken and use navy beans or great northern beans in place of the chicken. Alternatively, using a plant-based protein like tofu would be a great replacement.
- Use a different meat. Spicy Italian pork sausage would compliment the basil pesto so well! Ground turkey, ground chicken, or even chicken sausage would work excellent in this.
- Creamy and cheesy. Dollop some whole milk ricotta cheese on top and mix it throughout the pasta dish to finish. Goat cheese (if you like it) or freshly grated parmesan cheese are options too!
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Allow leftovers to cool then use the following to store and reheat:
- To store. Place leftover pasta in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- To reheat. Portion out leftovers into a microwave-safe bowl and reheat in the microwave until warmed through. You may need a splash of water to loosen things up. You can also reheat leftovers on the stovetop in a skillet until warmed through.
Basil Pesto Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 cups (150 g) dried orecchiette pasta
- ½ cup sundried tomatoes in olive oil, julienned
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- ½ large onion, diced
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, (if you're sensitive to spice you might want to start out with 1/4 teaspoon)
- 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed into 1" cubes
- 4 tablespoons basil pesto, homemade or store-bought
- 1 cup (91 g) broccoli florets, blanched
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to the directions on the box. Once done, drain well and set aside.2 cups (150 g) dried orecchiette pasta
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 teaspoon of oil from the sun-dried tomatoes. Add sun-dried tomatoes, garlic slices, onion, and crushed red pepper flakes. Sauté until fragrant and onions are translucent, about 3-4 minutes.1/2 cup sundried tomatoes in olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, 1/2 large onion, 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Add the cubed chicken breast to the skillet and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
- Add the basil pesto to the skillet and turn heat down to medium-low. The basil pesto might be a bit thick so you can thin it out by adding 1 tablespoon of water to the skillet, if needed.4 tablespoons basil pesto
- Add the blanched broccoli florets and cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss until everything is coated in the pesto and the ingredients are all evenly distributed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.1 cup (91 g) broccoli florets, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Photographs by Eat Love Eat
I love this pasta dish!! I have the same trouble with finding a stylist I love. I’m always jumping from salon to salon. Where in D.C. are you?
I’m in Fairfax, VA actually. I work in DC near the White House!
I grew up in Fairfax but I live in Capitol Hill now. We should get together sometime and talk about maintaining blogs with D.C. jobs!!
You already know the answer on the hair stylist :) you gotta cut that pro relationship (no pun intended!) AT the end of the day it is a service you pay for- not a favor from her- you should get what you pay for. Oh- and this pasta looks delicious!
Finding a good stylist is SO HARD. Maybe give her some time to get things in order then try again? (PS. Now that we’ve moved I’m seriously considering driving an hour to my old stylist in Madison. Finding a good one is ridiculously traumatic, lol)
Mmmm mmm mmmm … this is a yes-yes-yes in my books, on all fronts. Comforting, easy to make, pesto … definitely a must make asap!
I am a believer that time is money, and that time sitting around would make me switch. :) Especially since the other salon is so close.
And this is probably why I love this dish so much – super fast, and I can tell that my family would love it!!!
Great pasta dish!
Totally in love with these flavors! perfect dinner for tonight!
1. Recipe looks like something I’m going to have to try.
2. I usually don’t comment on these things, but I am a very high maintenance hair person (I go religiously every 4 wks) and I’m very close to my stylist as well. My stylist is moving to Toronto this month, so I had to find a new stylist. My criteria was clear, I want someone with reasonable prices, close, who does great hair (I asked someone with great hair who she went to), and will get me in and out on time. So, if I were you, I would just tell your friend/stylist straight up that it’s just better for you to go to the place closer to home. If she’s cool, she will understand and it won’t be awkward (because you aren’t ‘cheating’, if you see her out and about and ever decide to go back to her!) :)
Good advice – thanks Janice! Honesty is always the best!
Perfect weeknight dinner!! Great flavors!
You know how I feel about pesto so why is this dish not literally in front of me right now to devour? ;)