Easy Chicken Pesto Pasta: The Ultimate 20-Minute Dinner
A creamy, garlic-forward pasta dish combining juicy seared chicken breasts and a rich basil pesto sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes for a gourmet weeknight experience.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb chicken breast, cubed
- 1 lb penne or fusilli pasta
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook pasta until 1 minute before al dente. Save 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper and sear until golden brown on all sides.
- Add minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Reduce heat to medium and stir in the basil pesto and a splash of reserved pasta water until creamy.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss vigorously to coat the noodles in the sauce.
- Turn off the heat and stir in parmesan cheese and lemon juice. Serve immediately.