Chicken Pesto Pasta

Name: Chicken Pesto Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1/2 tbsp Oil for cooking onions; 1 Onion (120g); 2 Chicken breast (500g); 1-2 tbsp Genovese pesto; 1-2 tbsp Creme fraiche; 200 g dried Pasta; Handful of parsley to serve (optional); Extra pesto and creme fraiche to serve (optional)

Published: Jun 27, 2019 Modified: Aug 7, 2020 / by Debbie Jones / This site uses cookies. This post may contain affiliate links. Privacy policy in footer. All opinions are my own. This site generates income via ads.

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AD FEATURE FOR BELAZU. Chicken pesto pasta is an easy one-pan pasta recipe made with just 5 ingredients. The creamy pesto sauce that smothers this pasta recipe is made by simply combining Belazu Genovese pesto with a few spoonfuls of creme fraiche - easy and delicious.

Easy creamy pasta

Chicken pesto pasta is a super quick and really easy, one-pan, pesto pasta recipe with just five ingredients! Its great for those occasions when you've had a long day and have no time or inclination to cook. You can literally throw this dish together in 15 minutes and you know it will taste great and fill you up.

A creamy pasta recipe is also the best thing to come home to when you're tired and hungry and its definitely one of my favourite comfort foods. Plus a pesto pasta recipe is always so reliable as I nearly always have both of these ingredients in my cupboard. When I'm super hungry and in need of some really creamy pasta I just can't resist a creamy mushroom pasta or a creamy spiced cajun chicken pasta. There are also occasions when I want something a little lighter and so I like to rustle up a rustic pea pasta or a healthy salmon and prawn linguine with spiralized courgette..

What pasta is best with pesto?

Shorter pasta shapes like shells, penne or bow tie pasta are perfect for pesto. They can hold the sauce and they also stir together without to much fuss. That said, most pasta will go well with pesto. So if you happen to have spaghetti or tagliatelle to hand then this will also work perfectly well. In this recipe I have used tagliatelle, which does require a bit more care when tossing together with the creamy pesto sauce. But this usually works best with a ladle of pasta water added to help loosen the sauce. Its also important to have enough sauce, which will fully coat the pasta.

If you have a little extra time and want to make this dish extra special then you could make your own homemade pasta! It makes for a much better taste and texture.

Can you just add pesto to pasta?

This recipe is all about simple, quick cooking, which is made possible with ready made pesto. Pesto is ready straight out of the jar, so can just be spooned straight into your cooked pasta. Pesto can also be eaten cold and makes for a great pesto pasta salad. The pesto I have used in this recipe is Belazu Genovese pesto, which uses traditional recipe ingredients of Italian basil, aged PDO Parmigiano Reggiano and pine kernels. - Amazing!!

What ingredients do I need to make chicken pesto pasta?

For this really easy recipe you will need just 5 ingredients. Plus a bit of oil for cooking and some fresh parsley for a topping:

Onion
Chicken breast
Belazu Genovese pesto
Creme fraiche
Pasta

How to make chicken pesto pasta

Start by placing the tagliatelle in a pan with boiling water. Cook according to the instructions or for 7-8 minutes for dried or 2-3 minutes for fresh pasta.
Whilst the pasta is cooking place a large pan on a medium heat. Then fry 1 chopped onion until soft.
Next add cubed pieces of chicken breast to the pan. Continue to cook until the meat is sealed all over.
Keep the heat on medium and add a large tablespoon full of Genovese pesto and stir in well
Next turn the heat to low and add a tablespoon of creme fraiche.
When the pasta is cooked transfer from the water to the chicken pesto pan. Add a ladle full of the pasta water as well to help loosen the sauce. Then toss together until the pasta is well coated with the pesto.
Sprinkle over some freshly chopped parsley and then serve topped with extra pesto and creme fraiche.

Is pesto sauce bad for you?

Most of the calories in pesto come from fat. However, the fat provided by the pine nuts in pesto is mainly good fat (mono unsaturated and poly unsaturated fatty acids). Theses fats help to keep our hearts healthy. Pine nuts are also a good source of protein and fibre. The fat coming from the cheese is mainly saturated fats, which are the unhealthy type and should be consumed in moderation. As a complete recipe chicken pesto pasta is a good source of healthy fats, is high in protein, a good source of energy, and provides plenty of micronutrients such as potassium, vitamin A and vitamin K.

What goes well with chicken pesto?

As pesto is made with basil its safe to assume that serving this dish with fresh basil leaves would work rather well. In this recipe I went with fresh parsley, which has a slight bitter taste and so brightens the flavour of the creme fraiche and pesto.

Pesto originates from the province of genoa region in Italy, where they grow basil and have pesto on and with everything. - so go crazy if you like and put your pesto with whatever you fancy - fish, risotto, sandwiches, lasagna - the options are endless.

Can you bake chicken with pesto?

Yes you can bake chicken with pesto. Just transfer the cooked pasta recipe to a baking dish. Then sprinkle over some grated parmesan and some breadcrumbs for extra crunch. Then bake in the oven for 20 minutes for a lovely chicken pesto pasta bake.