Red Pesto Chicken Pasta (15-Minute Dinner)
This Red Pesto Pasta is a fast and flavorful dinner made with tender chicken, sun-dried tomato pesto, and your favorite pasta. Ready in just 15 minutes, it's an easy weeknight meal the whole family will love.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 512kcal
Ingredients
- 8 ounces ½ pound pasta of choice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts thighs, or tenders, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt or ¼ teaspoon table salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper or to taste
- 4 cloves garlic minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- ⅔ cup sun-dried tomato pesto about one 6.7-ounce jar
- ⅓ cup heavy cream optional
- ⅔ cup reserved pasta water plus more as needed
- ⅓ cup chopped fresh basil
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve at least 2/3 cup of the pasta water.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and season with the salt, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper. Cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is lightly golden and nearly cooked through.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds, stirring frequently, until fragrant and the chicken is fully cooked.
- Add the drained pasta, sun-dried tomato pesto, and heavy cream (if using) to the skillet. Toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Gradually stir in the reserved pasta water, a splash at a time, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. If omitting the cream, add a little extra pasta water as needed.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the fresh basil. Serve immediately topped with grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Cook the chicken while the pasta boils to keep this a true 15-minute dinner.
- Reserve plenty of pasta water before draining, since it helps create a silky sauce.
- Add the pasta water gradually while tossing to help the sauce cling to the pasta.
- Taste the pesto before adding extra salt, as some jarred versions are already well seasoned.
Nutrition
Calories: 512kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 812mg | Potassium: 594mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 822IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 2mg