Quick & Easy Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe

Name: Quick & Easy Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 4 large carrots, (unpeeled and thinly sliced); 9 ounces uncooked penne or rotini pasta; 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, (divided); 1 Tablespoon olive oil; ¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper; ¼ teaspoon salt; 3 cloves garlic, (minced); 1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breasts, (cut into 1 inch cubes); ¼ cup pesto sauce, (homemade or store bought); ¼ cup parmesan cheese, (freshly grated); sliced fresh basil

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This creamy pesto pasta is perfect for any busy weeknight dinner. The chicken is sautéed in fresh garlic and then tossed in a rich and flavorful basil pesto sauce mixed with Parmesan cheese. A delicious meal, this chicken pesto pasta recipe is ready in 35 minutes!

Close up of chicken pesto pasta in a skillet.

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✔️ Quick Recipe Overview
ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works
🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
📋 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
📖 Variations
🙋🏼 Frequently Asked Questions
💭 Expert Tips
🌿 More Pesto Recipes
Quick & Easy Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe

✔️ Quick Recipe Overview

Why This Is The Best Pesto Pasta Recipe: This pasta is packed with protein, has a light pesto taste, and is full of robust flavor when combined with the sautéd julienne carrots, garlic, and Parmesan cheese.

How Long It Takes: 35 minutes

Equipment You'll Need: large skillet, large pot

We love all things pasta at my house and this is our new family favorite. We eat pasta at least once a week, everything from this spaghetti sauce recipe, to a delicious spinach and mushroom lasagna with white sauce, and this easy-to-make basil alfredo chicken pasta. But my kid's all-time favorite is pesto pasta. And this chicken pesto pasta recipe is a huge hit! It's super quick to make and incredibly versatile allowing you to switch up the protein and vegetables. You're going to love this easy dinner recipe and it's great for lunch the next day!

Parmesan cheese topped pasta with carrots, chicken, and basil in a skillet.

ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works

1. Easy - this pasta recipe is no-fuss! It's both quick and easy to prepare.

2. Versatile - I love adding additional vegetables like broccoli and asparagus. You can also switch up the proteins or make this a meatless meal!

3. Great for leftovers - this creamy chicken pesto pasta stores really well, reheats easily, and tastes just as good the next day!

🛒 Ingredients You'll Need

The ingredients I use to make this chicken pesto pasta recipe are simple and fresh. I typically buy chicken breasts and cut them into 1-inch cubes. I sauté the chicken in olive oil and fresh garlic for enhanced flavor. If you have flavored olive oil, definitely use it as it will provide an even more robust flavor.

The julienned carrots sautéd in butter really add to the flavor of this chicken pesto pasta. Tossed in a light pesto sauce (that can be homemade or store-bought) and then mixed with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, we're talking unbelievable flavor like you've never tasted!

pasta, diced raw chicken, pesto sauce,, and other ingredients on a counter to make parmesan pasta.

📋 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

Start by thinly slicing the unpeeled carrots into matchsticks. Rinse and set aside.

Knife and sliced matchstick carrots on a counter.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions.

While the pasta is cooking, melt 1 Tablespoon of butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the thinly sliced carrots to the skillet with the melted butter and sauté for 7-10 minutes or until the carrots become slightly al dente and tender. Once done, remove them from the skillet and set aside.

collage of pictures showing how to saute thin sliced carrots.

When sautéing the carrots, you want to trigger the Maillard reaction. I explain what that is in my smoked beef short ribs recipe but it's a natural chemical reaction that can occur when cooking that delivers an amazing amount of flavor. While you will experience a bit of browning in your pan, ensure the burner is on medium heat so no charring or burning occurs.

Using the same skillet, add the olive oil and allow it to get hot. Add the minced garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes.

Minced garlic and olive oil in a skillet.

Season the diced chicken with salt and pepper and add to the skillet. Cook until done, about 7-10 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.

Collage of pictures showing how to saute chicken in a skillet.

When the pasta has finished cooking, drain and return the cooked pasta and 1 Tablespoon of butter to the skillet.

Add the pesto sauce, shredded parmesan cheese, sauteed carrots, and chicken to the large skillet with the pasta and toss to combine.

Pasta, chicken, carrots,, parmesan cheese, and pesto sauce in a skillet.

Divide this chicken pesto pasta recipe among four plates. Garnish with fresh sliced basil. Serve immediately while it's still hot. It's perfect for busy weeknights and you are going to love every bite!

Two bowls filled with pesto and chicken pasta.

📖 Variations

You can make your own homemade pesto sauce or use store-bought pesto. Use shrimp instead of chicken to switch up the protein source. Rotisserie chicken also works well. Or skip the protein altogether and go vegetarian! I also love adding sun-dried tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, broccoli, and asparagus. The options are truly endless.

🙋🏼 Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of pasta does pesto go with?

Any short pasta noodle goes well with this chicken pesto pasta recipe. I've used penne and rotini and they both work well. I used gemelli pasta in this recipe. You can also use gluten-free pasta or high-fiber pasta with this recipe.

What is pesto made of?

Traditional pesto sauce is made with fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. But pesto sauce is incredibly versatile. My tarragon pesto sauce in this pasta recipe is amazingly flavorful and easy to make. This walnut pesto is also extremely tasty and easy to make.

Skillet filled with pesto pasta, spoon stirring pasta.

💭 Expert Tips

Grate your own Parmesan cheese. Leave the Parmesan cheese block at room temperature for 30-45 minutes so it's easier to grate.
There are a lot of nutrients in the peelings of the carrots so don't peel the carrots before you slice them.
If you have flavored olive oil, definitely use it when sautéing the chicken. It will subtly enhance the flavor of the chicken.
If the chicken is drying out too fast while sautéing, put the lid on the skillet. This will trap in the moisture and ensure the chicken doesn't dry out before it's done cooking.

Close up of pesto pasta topped with basil.

🌿 More Pesto Recipes

I can never get enough pesto-based recipes and I love making my own homemade pesto. Some of my favorites include these pesto chicken thighs which are made in the slow cooker and are done in 3-4 hours. Serve these over rice or pasta. And these chickpea lettuce wraps are tossed in a flavorful pesto sauce and are great for a vegetarian snack!

You need to try making my pasta recipe creations because they are unforgettable and full of intense flavor. From butter garlic sauce to alfredo pasta recipes, you are guaranteed to find several dishes you are going to love!

Update Notes: This post was originally published in May 2012, but was republished with updated step-by-step instructions, pictures, and tips in March 2022.

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