This Chicken Pesto Pasta is an easy and delicious family-friendly dinner recipe that everyone will love! It comes together quickly and is full of flavor!
*Originally published 6/2017. Updated 11/2025*
Hi friends!
I’m excited to share this updated recipe for Chicken Pesto Pasta with you today! It is so easy and flavorful. Truly a dish the whole family can enjoy and I’ve been making it on repeat lately.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Pesto Pasta
Just a few things to love about this recipe:
- It’s quick enough for a weeknight dinner but can also be fancy enough for date night.
- It’s easy to customize – you could easily add more veggies! Try dropping some chopped broccoli or green beans in with the pasta for the last few minutes of cooking.
- You can add a seasonal spin – Try adding some fresh sweet corn in the summer or some roasted squash in the Fall.
- High protein – You’ll get protein from the chicken and you can add even more protein by choosing a higher protein pasta. My kids love Barilla Plus!
Chicken Pesto Pasta Ingredients
For this recipe you’ll need:
- Chicken – I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Marinade ingredients – oil, red wine vinegar, garlic powder, paprika and salt
- Tomatoes – I use grape or cherry tomatoes cut in half
- Garlic and butter – for flavor
- Heavy cream – to thicken the sauce slightly
- Pesto – feel free to use homemade or store-bought
- Parmesan – freshly grated!
- Pasta – pick your favorite shape!
How To Make Chicken Pesto Pasta
Making this recipe requires just a few simple steps:
- Marinate the chicken.
- Pan sear the chicken until cooked through and set aside.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions.
- In the same pan you cooked the chicken in, saute tomatoes, butter and garlic.
- Add the cream, pesto and parmesan.
- Stir in the cooked pasta and add chicken before serving!
Pesto Pasta Protein Options
This recipe works great with any type of chicken. Feel free to skip pan-searing the chicken and just mix in some leftover baked or grilled chicken, or use shredded rotisserie chicken to make it come together even more quickly!
If you don’t want chicken, you could sub shrimp in the same marinade!
Chicken Pesto Pasta Variations
Here are some easy variations to consider:
Vegetable variations
Feel free to change up the vegetables in this recipe. You could add asparagus, broccoli, green beans, zucchini or even a couple of handfuls of baby spinach!
Gluten-Free Chicken Pesto Pasta
To make this recipe gluten-free, just sub in a gluten-free pasta of your choice. I like Jovial or Tinkayada. The rest of the recipe is naturally gluten-free. Be sure to double-check the pasta if needed.
Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta
To make this recipe even creamier, try melting in a few ounces of cream cheese when you add the heavy cream and pesto!
Seasonal variations
Try adding peas or asparagus in the spring, roasted squash in the fall and fresh corn, zucchini and/or green beans in the spring.
Healthy Chicken Pesto Pasta
This recipe is already fairly healthy. To add more nutrients, try:
- Swapping in whole wheat pasta or a higher protein pasta option
- Add more veggies. You can easily add several more servings of vegetables to this recipe!
- Cut back on the pesto a little bit and add some fresh basil and cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for extra flavor.
Easy Chicken Pesto Pasta
To make this dish as easy as possible, grab a rotisserie chicken and skip cooking the chicken. And grab some store-bought pesto vs making your own!
What To Serve with Chicken Pesto Pasta
This pasta dish could be a complete meal on its own but if you’re looking for something to serve with it, try:
- Salad! A simple salad would be great. Or try this Loaded Strawberry Spinach Salad or this Mediterranean Chopped Salad.
- Garlic bread – Always goes great with pasta! Try this Homemade Garlic Bread.
- Side of veggies – You can never have too many! Try Crispy Green Bean Fries, Maple Glazed Carrots or Cheesy Broccoli!
Chicken Pesto Pasta vs Caprese Pasta
Caprese Pasta Salad typically has a base of noodles and includes tomatoes and fresh basil as well, but it often comes with a balsamic dressing and the addition of fresh mozzarella. Here’s a recipe for Caprese Pasta Salad. Chicken pesto pasta has a pesto-based dressing/sauce. You could definitely add fresh mozzarella pearls to the chicken pesto pasta!
Meal Prep Chicken Pesto Pasta and Storage
Can chicken pesto pasta be made ahead of time? Yes! It holds up well and can be stored in the fridge. Just reheat in the microwave when ready to eat.
You can even enjoy this pasta dish warm or cold which makes it a great option to pack for lunch.
Pesto Chicken Pasta Recipe
Here’s how you make it:
Chicken Pesto Pasta
Print Recipe
This Chicken Pesto Pasta is an easy and delicious family-friendly dinner recipe that everyone will love! It comes together quickly and is full of flavor!
- Yield: serves 4
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 1 – 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, pounded thin
- 2 Tbsp oil
- 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
For the pasta
- 2 cups uncooked pasta (shape of your choice)
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup pesto
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan, plus more for serving
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- In a large Ziploc bag, combine chicken, oil, vinegar, garlic powder, paprika and salt. Shake to combine and let marinate at least 30 minutes, up to overnight.
- In a large pan over medium heat, add 1 Tbsp oil and pan sear chicken breasts 3-4 minutes per side until cooked through to a temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Remove from pan and set aside.
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water before draining.
- In the same pan you used for the chicken, add butter, garlic and tomatoes and saute over medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Turn heat to low and add cream, pesto, parmesan, red pepper and reserved pasta water and stir gently for 2-3 minutes.
- Add drained pasta and stir to coat.
- Serve with sliced chicken on top or cut up chicken and mix in with the pasta.
- Top with fresh parmesan before serving.
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So easy, right?!
Chicken Pesto Pasta FAQs
What is the best pasta to use for chicken pesto pasta?
You can use any kind of shape or type of pasta you want for this recipe! Just cook according to package directions! I typically make it with spirals or elbows.
Can I make creamy chicken pesto pasta without heavy cream?
You could try adding in some plain Greek yogurt or cream cheese to add some creaminess to the pasta without heavy cream.
How do I make chicken pesto pasta healthier?
To make this pasta healthier, try using a whole wheat or high protein pasta. You could also try a chickpea-based pasta like Banza. And add some extra vegetables! Green beans, broccoli, asparagus, corn and zucchini would all work well in this recipe. You could saute the corn or zucchini with the tomatoes or toss the green beans, asparagus or broccoli in to cook with the pasta.
Can I use rotisserie chicken in chicken pesto pasta?
Yes! To help this meal come together even more quickly, swap cooking the chicken breasts for just mixing in some rotiserie chicken at the end.
What vegetables go best in chicken pesto pasta?
Lots of vegetables would work well in this recipe. Things that can cook quickly in boiling water like broccoli, cauliflower, green beans or asparagus are great. You could also roast up a tray of your favorite root vegetables like sweet potatoes and mix those in at that end! In the summer, corn and zucchiini are great choices.
Can I make chicken pesto pasta gluten-free?
Yes! To make this recipe gluten-free, use a gluten-free pasta and check to make sure your pesto is gluten-free.
How do I store and reheat chicken pesto pasta?
Store your pasta dish in a glass container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply put in the microwave!
Can I serve chicken pesto pasta cold as pasta salad?
Yes! This pasta can be eaten warm or cold. Reheat if you want or pack it in a lunchbox and enjoy it cold!
Is homemade pesto better than store-bought for chicken pesto pasta?
Either homemade or storebought pesto will work well in this recipe! If you want to make your own, try this Basil Pesto recipe.
Can I make chicken pesto pasta ahead of time for meal prep?
Yes! This pasta dish holds up well in the fridge making it perfect for meal prep. Make it ahead of time and enjoy it for lunch or dinner all week long!
Want more recipes like this? Try:
- Broccoli Pesto Pasta
- Slow Cooker Pesto Chicken Tortellini
- Instant Pot Pasta with Meat Sauce
- Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowls
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
