Easiest Pesto Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Both pesto and parmesan cheese coat every bite of juicy chicken and al dente penne pasta in this easy recipe that’s ready in 20 minutes. This is great comfort food, but also has a spring and summery feel from the tomatoes and basil. The best of both worlds! This chicken pesto pasta is perfect for planned leftovers and you can freeze them, too. Or bring it to your next potluck or picnic, or serve it at a party you’re hosting. It’s a guaranteed family-favorite.
What’s in the Pesto Chicken Penne?
To make the chicken penne pasta, you’ll need:
Penne pasta Olive oil Chicken breasts Italian seasoning Garlic Basil pesto Cherry tomatoes Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper Fresh basil
How to Make Pesto Chicken Penne
Boil the pasta, and while that’s going sauté chicken that’s seasoned with Italian seasoning and perfumed with a bit of garlic. Transfer the cooked chicken into the drained pasta pot and add pesto, parmesan cheese, cherry tomatoes, and serve it right up. So fast and and easy and it feeds a crowd!
Do I Have to Use Penne?
Nope! I used penne pasta but you could use rotini, ziti, small shells, or your favorite small-shaped pasta.
Can I Use Store-Bought Pesto?
I do think there is nothing better than homemade pesto because you just cannot beat the aroma and flavor of fresh basil, and it only takes five minutes to make. And in a dish where pesto is the star of the show, that’s another reason to make your own. But if you don’t want to, you can use store bought prepared pesto. No shame. Just note that prepared pesto tends to be pretty salty, like almost all prepared condiments, salsas, mustards, etc. which are loaded with sodium. You likely won’t need to add any extra salt to this dish whatsoever, especially since parmesan cheese is salty, too.
Tips for Making Basil Pesto Chicken Pasta
For the best flavor and texture, I recommend buying a block of Parmesan cheese and grating it yourself. At the very least, avoid the powdery stuff in a shaker canister. With both the pesto and the parmesan, add to taste. I gave the measurements I used and that my daughter adored, but you can always go lighter-handed at first, and add more either pesto or parmesan, to taste. We love making this as a basil pesto chicken pasta, but there’s no reason you couldn’t use another type of pesto. Sun-dried tomato besto would also work well, I imagine!
More Chicken Pasta Recipes:
Chicken Asparagus Pasta — EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and the asparagus, tomatoes, and basil keep this chicken and pasta recipe tasting LIGHTER and FRESHER!! Perfect for picnics, potlucks, and busy weeknight dinners!! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes!
Asiago Chicken and Pasta – EASY comfort food to feed a crowd that’s ready in 25 minutes!! Tender chicken and penne pasta with red peppers, green beans, and everything is coated with Asiago CHEESE for the family dinner win!!
Skinny Italian Chicken Pasta Salad – EASY, ready in 30 minutes, feeds a crowd, and is on the SKINNY side!! Juicy chicken, fresh veggies, and the pasta are tossed in a light and tangy homemade Italian lemon vinaigrette!!
Lemon Butter Garlic Chicken Pasta — Buttery pasta with juicy chicken, flavored with lemon butter and garlic, and finished with Parmesan cheese!! A family-friendly dinner recipe that’s ready in 20 minutes and it’s so EASY!!
Honey Lemon Chicken Pasta — This pasta is ready in 20 minutes, making it the perfect weeknight meal! Pair with a simple salad or veggies and extra lemon wedges to amp up the lemon flavor.
Parmesan Chicken and Spinach Pasta – EASY and ready in 20 minutes with comforting pasta, juicy chicken, a hint of lemon, and the PERFECT amount of Parmesan!!
Lemon Pepper Chicken Pasta — EASY and ready in 15 minutes with comforting pasta, juicy chicken, and there is so much ZESTY flavor from the lemon, basil, and spinach!
