Name: Chicken Pesto Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast diced into bite-sized pieces; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon italian seasoning; 2 garlic cloves minced; salt and pepper to taste; 1/2 pound penne pasta or farfalle, rotini; 2 tablespoons butter; 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 cup chicken broth; 1 cup half and half; 1/2 cup basil pesto fresh or jarred; 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese; 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese; salt and pepper to taste; fresh basil chopped; extra parmesan for garnish

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast diced into bite-sized pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
2 garlic cloves minced
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 pound penne pasta or farfalle, rotini
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup half and half
1/2 cup basil pesto fresh or jarred
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
salt and pepper to taste
fresh basil chopped
extra parmesan for garnish

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Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water and then drain the pasta, setting aside.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken, season with Italian seasoning, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 6-8 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and golden. Transfer to a plate.
In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly until light golden.
Gradually whisk in chicken broth and half and half. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes while whisking until the sauce thickens.
Remove the pan from heat, stir in pesto, and then add parmesan and mozzarella gradually, stirring until melted and smooth. If too thick, add some reserved pasta water.
Add the cooked chicken and pasta back to the skillet, tossing to combine. Adjust seasoning as needed and serve with fresh basil and extra parmesan.

Notes

For added flavor, marinate the chicken in pesto for 30 minutes before cooking.
Feel free to substitute the type of pasta based on your preference.
This dish can be prepared ahead of time and reheated; just add a splash of water to bring back creaminess.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 plate
Calories: 580
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 720mg
Fat: 32g
Saturated Fat: 16g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 46g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 30g
Cholesterol: 100mg

Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.