Skip to Content
Menu

Pesto Pasta with Chicken

  • Save Recipe
Inspiration awaits, let's get making!
  • Prep 15 min
  • Total 30 min
  • Servings 6
  • Save
  • Print
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Email
Ready to Make?
  • Save
  • Shop
  • Share
  • Keep Screen On
Impressive meals don't have to take hours and hours in the kitchen. Take this beautiful pesto chicken pasta, for example, which is ready in just 30 minutes! You only need a handful of ingredients to make the fresh, from-scratch pesto. Its bright flavor is the highlight of this super-fast pesto pasta recipe, packed with cherry tomatoes and chicken.
Updated Sep 1, 2023
  • Save
  • Shop
  • Share
  • Keep Screen On

Ingredients

Pesto

  • 1 cup firmly packed fresh basil leaves
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted

Pasta

  • 12 oz uncooked penne pasta (3 1/2 cups) (from 16-oz package)
  • 3 cups Progresso™ chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup julienned fresh basil leaves
  • 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Make With
Progresso Broth

Steps

  • 1
    In blender or food processor, place Pesto ingredients.
  • 2
    Cover and process on medium speed about 3 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides with rubber spatula, until smooth. Set aside.
  • 3
    In 4-quart saucepan, heat penne and broth just to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until al dente and liquid is almost absorbed. Remove from heat. Add pesto; stir in chicken and tomatoes; cook over medium 2 to 3 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
  • 4
    Garnish with basil and 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

  • tip 1
    Looking for a quick and easy way to julienne basil leaves for this pesto chicken pasta recipe? Simply stack the leaves, roll them up lengthwise like a cigar and cut them into thin strips, going from one end of the “cigar” to the other.
  • tip 2
    To turn this chicken pesto pasta into a lovely, well-rounded meal, serve with a crispy green salad and a crusty loaf of bread.
  • tip 3
    To toast almonds for this chicken pesto pasta recipe, sprinkle them into an ungreased heavy skillet. Cook over medium-low heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently until browning begins, then stirring constantly until golden brown.

Nutrition

480 Calories, 19g Total Fat, 27g Protein, 52g Total Carbohydrate, 3g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 1/2 Cups
Calories
480
Calories from Fat
170
Total Fat
19g
28%
Saturated Fat
4 1/2g
22%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
45mg
16%
Sodium
740mg
31%
Potassium
360mg
10%
Total Carbohydrate
52g
17%
Dietary Fiber
4g
15%
Sugars
3g
Protein
27g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
20%
20%
Vitamin C
8%
8%
Calcium
15%
15%
Iron
15%
15%
Exchanges:
2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 2 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
3 1/2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
© 2024 ®/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved
< div class="recipeContentBottom">