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20m

Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

Author:

majasrecipes

TikTok

20M

Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

Name: Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 1 box Linguine pasta (Or other preferred pasta shape); 1/2 cup Pesto (Store-bought or homemade); 1/2 cup Heavy cream (For creamy texture); 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (Grated, plus extra for garnish); 2 cups Cooked chicken (Shredded or diced (not prepared in this video)); 1/2 cup Pasta water (Reserved from cooking pasta); To taste Salt (For seasoning pasta water)

This creamy pesto chicken pasta is an incredibly easy and flavorful dish, perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. It combines tender pasta with a rich and savory pesto cream sauce, loaded with juicy shredded chicken and finished with Parmesan cheese. Described as "the most underrated pasta dish," it's a satisfying meal that's ready in minutes.

#pasta

#pesto

#chicken

#creamy

#easy recipe

#dinner

#lunch

#meal prep

#tiktok recipe

Ingredients for Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

Recipe Information

Prep Time

15m

Cook Time

20m

Total Time

Servings

Easy

Italian-American

English

Nutrition (per serving)

620

Calories

38g

Protein

45g

Carbs

39g

Fat

Creamy Pesto Sauce being prepared

Ingredients

Linguine pasta
(Or other preferred pasta shape)
1 box
Pesto
(Store-bought or homemade)
1 cup
Heavy cream
(For creamy texture)
1 cup
Parmesan cheese
(Grated, plus extra for garnish)
1 cup
Cooked chicken
(Shredded or diced (not prepared in this video))
2 cups
Pasta water
(Reserved from cooking pasta)
1 cup
Salt
(For seasoning pasta water)
To taste

Servings: 4

💡 Tip: Check off ingredients as you add them to keep track of your progress!

Pasta, chicken, and sauce tossed together

Instructions

0/9 completed

1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.
Preview
9m
Preview
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.
9m
Ensure the water is well-salted to flavor the pasta from within.
2
Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the remaining pasta water.
Preview
1m
Preview
Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the remaining pasta water.
1m
The reserved pasta water helps to emulsify the sauce and thicken it.
3
In a large pan or skillet, combine the pesto and heavy cream over medium-low heat. Stir until well combined and slightly warmed.
Preview
2m
Preview
In a large pan or skillet, combine the pesto and heavy cream over medium-low heat. Stir until well combined and slightly warmed.
2m
Don't let the cream boil; just gently warm and combine with the pesto.
4
Stir in the 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese into the pesto cream mixture until it melts and integrates.
Preview
1m
Preview
Stir in the 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese into the pesto cream mixture until it melts and integrates.
1m
Freshly grated Parmesan melts more smoothly than pre-shredded.
5
Add the cooked and drained pasta to the pan with the sauce.
Preview
0m
Preview
Add the cooked and drained pasta to the pan with the sauce.
0m
Adding the pasta directly to the sauce helps it absorb flavor.
6
Pour in about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water, adding it gradually until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
Preview
1m
Preview
Pour in about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water, adding it gradually until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
1m
Start with less pasta water and add more as needed; you can always add but can't remove.
7
Add the cooked, shredded chicken to the pasta and sauce.
Preview
0m
Preview
Add the cooked, shredded chicken to the pasta and sauce.
0m
Ensure the chicken is warmed through before adding it to the pasta.
8
Toss everything together gently until the pasta, sauce, and chicken are evenly coated and well combined.
Preview
1m
Preview
Toss everything together gently until the pasta, sauce, and chicken are evenly coated and well combined.
1m
Use tongs for easy tossing and to prevent pasta from clumping.
9
Serve immediately in bowls, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Preview
0m
Preview
Serve immediately in bowls, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
0m
A sprinkle of fresh basil or red pepper flakes can add extra flavor and color.

💡 Tip: Click on any step to mark it as completed and track your cooking progress!

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Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

Recipe Information

Ingredients

Linguine pasta(Or other preferred pasta shape)

Pesto(Store-bought or homemade)

Heavy cream(For creamy texture)

Parmesan cheese(Grated, plus extra for garnish)

Cooked chicken(Shredded or diced (not prepared in this video))

Pasta water(Reserved from cooking pasta)

Salt(For seasoning pasta water)

Servings: 4

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.Preview9mPreviewBring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.9m

Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the remaining pasta water.Preview1mPreviewBefore draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the remaining pasta water.1m

In a large pan or skillet, combine the pesto and heavy cream over medium-low heat. Stir until well combined and slightly warmed.Preview2mPreviewIn a large pan or skillet, combine the pesto and heavy cream over medium-low heat. Stir until well combined and slightly warmed.2m

Stir in the 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese into the pesto cream mixture until it melts and integrates.Preview1mPreviewStir in the 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese into the pesto cream mixture until it melts and integrates.1m

Add the cooked and drained pasta to the pan with the sauce.Preview0mPreviewAdd the cooked and drained pasta to the pan with the sauce.0m

Pour in about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water, adding it gradually until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.Preview1mPreviewPour in about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water, adding it gradually until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.1m

Add the cooked, shredded chicken to the pasta and sauce.Preview0mPreviewAdd the cooked, shredded chicken to the pasta and sauce.0m

Toss everything together gently until the pasta, sauce, and chicken are evenly coated and well combined.Preview1mPreviewToss everything together gently until the pasta, sauce, and chicken are evenly coated and well combined.1m

Serve immediately in bowls, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.Preview0mPreviewServe immediately in bowls, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.0m

🍽️More Recipes

Linguine pasta
(Or other preferred pasta shape)

Pesto
(Store-bought or homemade)

Heavy cream
(For creamy texture)

Parmesan cheese
(Grated, plus extra for garnish)

Cooked chicken
(Shredded or diced (not prepared in this video))

Pasta water
(Reserved from cooking pasta)

Salt
(For seasoning pasta water)

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.
Preview
9m
Preview
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.
9m

Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the remaining pasta water.
Preview
1m
Preview
Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the remaining pasta water.
1m

In a large pan or skillet, combine the pesto and heavy cream over medium-low heat. Stir until well combined and slightly warmed.
Preview
2m
Preview
In a large pan or skillet, combine the pesto and heavy cream over medium-low heat. Stir until well combined and slightly warmed.
2m

Stir in the 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese into the pesto cream mixture until it melts and integrates.
Preview
1m
Preview
Stir in the 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese into the pesto cream mixture until it melts and integrates.
1m

Add the cooked and drained pasta to the pan with the sauce.
Preview
0m
Preview
Add the cooked and drained pasta to the pan with the sauce.
0m

Pour in about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water, adding it gradually until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
Preview
1m
Preview
Pour in about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water, adding it gradually until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
1m

Add the cooked, shredded chicken to the pasta and sauce.
Preview
0m
Preview
Add the cooked, shredded chicken to the pasta and sauce.
0m

Toss everything together gently until the pasta, sauce, and chicken are evenly coated and well combined.
Preview
1m
Preview
Toss everything together gently until the pasta, sauce, and chicken are evenly coated and well combined.
1m

Serve immediately in bowls, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Preview
0m
Preview
Serve immediately in bowls, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
0m