Description
Delectable creamy pesto chicken pasta merges Italian flavors with comforting textures. Succulent chicken, al dente pasta, and rich basil sauce create a memorable meal for home cooks seeking simple yet impressive dinner options.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 3 oz (85 g) cream cheese, cut into chunks
- ½ lb (227 g) penne pasta
- 1.5 cups (355 ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) basil pesto
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsps (30 g) butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups fresh spinach, optional
- ¼ cup (30 g) sliced sun-dried tomatoes, optional
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Uniformly dice chicken into bite-sized pieces to ensure consistent cooking and tender texture.
- Sautéing: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat, browning chicken pieces until golden and slightly crisp on the exterior.
- Aromatic Infusion: Introduce minced garlic, allowing flavors to meld with chicken for approximately one minute.
- Pasta Integration: Add uncooked penne directly into skillet, pouring chicken broth to deglaze pan and lift caramelized bits from bottom.
- Cooking Process: Bring liquid to a boil, reduce heat, cover skillet, and simmer until pasta becomes tender and liquid is mostly absorbed.
- Sauce Development: Incorporate cream cheese, stirring until completely melted and creating a silky smooth base.
- Flavor Enhancement: Blend pesto into the sauce, ensuring even distribution of herbaceous green tones throughout the dish.
- Creamy Transformation: Gradually fold in milk, creating a luxurious and creamy consistency.
- Cheese Incorporation: Sprinkle grated parmesan, whisking continuously to prevent clumping and promote seamless integration.
- Final Touches: Add fresh spinach leaves and chopped sun-dried tomatoes, allowing greens to gently wilt and ingredients to meld.
- Seasoning: Generously season with cracked black pepper and crushed red pepper for balanced heat and complexity.
- Serving: Transfer to serving dish immediately while piping hot, ensuring maximum flavor and optimal dining experience.
Notes
- Uniform Cutting: Dice chicken into consistent bite-sized pieces to guarantee even cooking and tender meat texture throughout the dish.
- Garlic Infusion: Sauté minced garlic briefly to release maximum aromatic flavors without burning, creating a rich flavor foundation.
- Deglazing Technique: Pour chicken broth carefully to lift caramelized bits from skillet bottom, adding depth and complexity to the sauce’s overall taste profile.
- Cheese Melting Tip: Stir cream cheese slowly and thoroughly to achieve a silky smooth sauce without lumps, ensuring a creamy and luxurious final texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg