Chicken Pesto Pasta with Fresh Basil Flavor
A quick and flavorful Italian pasta dish featuring chicken, fresh basil pesto, and Parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 ounces short pasta (penne or fusilli)
- 2 cups fresh basil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pound chicken breast, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup olive oil for frying
- 1 teaspoon salt for seasoning chicken
- 1 teaspoon pepper for seasoning chicken
Instructions
- Prepare the pesto: Blend basil, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and a pinch of salt in a food processor until smooth.
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and toss with pesto.
- Coat chicken slices with Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes per side.
- Serve pasta topped with chicken. Drizzle with extra pesto if desired.
Notes
- Arugula can be substituted for basil in the pesto.
- Adjust garlic quantity to your taste.
- Use extra virgin olive oil for the best pesto flavor.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is preferred for the pesto.
- Taste pesto before adding more salt.
- Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese or fresh basil.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: Chicken Pesto Pasta, Fresh Basil Pasta, Italian Pasta Recipe, Quick Pasta Dinner, Easy Chicken Recipe, Pesto Chicken