Ingredients
The beauty of this pasta dish is that it needs minimal effort and delivers huge on flavor. The garlic butter chicken bites are seared in a hot pan before adding butter, garlic, paprika and lemon and served with the pasta that has been tossed in the chicken’s juices and fresh basil pesto. To make creamy pesto sauce, add a half cup of heavy cream. You could add vegetables like baby spinach, zucchini, red peppers, cherry tomatoes or asparagus too. For the garlic butter chicken
Chicken. I used boneless skinless chicken breast but chicken thighs can be used too. Olive oil. Lemon juice. Garlic powder. Smoked paprika. Other seasonings like Italian seasoning, onion powder, red pepper flakes, etc. can also be added. Salt and black pepper. Butter. Fresh garlic cloves.
For the pesto pasta
Pasta. I used spaghetti but penne pasta, linguine or rigatoni will all work. Fresh basil pesto. Parmesan cheese, to serve.
How to make chicken pesto pasta
Can I make this ahead?
This pesto chicken pasta recipe is definitely best served immediately but leftovers can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, transfer to a large pan set over medium heat, add a few tablespoons of chicken broth and simmer until the chicken is hot throughout. I wouldn’t recommend freezing the pasta and sauce but you can marinate the chicken and transfer to a freezer bag then freeze for up to 3 months before thawing and cooking as instructed.
Chicken pasta recipes
