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    Home » Recipes » Entrées

    Pesto Chicken Pasta (5 ingredients)

    Published: Mar 13, 2020 · Modified: May 17, 2022 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 569 words. · About 3 minutes to read this article.

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    Pesto Chicken Pasta (5 ingredients) by The Toasty Kitchen
    Pesto Chicken Pasta (5 ingredients) by The Toasty Kitchen
    Pesto Chicken Pasta (5 ingredients) by The Toasty Kitchen

    Pesto Chicken Pasta is an easy, 20 minute meal that's made with just five shelf-stable ingredients. Bow tie pasta and chicken are coated in a rich and flavorful pesto sauce.

    Bow tie pasta coated in a basil pesto sauce.

    This recipe is perfect to keep on hand when you're running low on fresh ingredients in the refrigerator, or can't seem to get to the grocery store. Chicken pesto pasta is made with just five, shelf-stable, easy to find ingredients.

    The best part is that this recipe is absolutely filled with flavor. Two main ingredients do the heavy lifting in this recipe - basil pesto and sun-dried tomatoes in oil. You'll use about half of each jar, meaning you can make several batches of this easy pasta recipe.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    The five ingredients needed to make pesto chicken pasta.I used bow tie pasta for this recipe, but you can use any shape or size of pasta you have on hand. Spaghetti, penne, fettuccine, or macaroni will all work too.

    Canned chicken can be substituted with cooked and cubed chicken, or shredded rotisserie chicken.

    Garlic cloves can be substituted with garlic powder. However, I prefer the flavor from garlic cloves and suggest using them if you have them on hand.

    We'll be utilizing some of the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes, along with the basil pesto, to create a flavorful oil-based sauce for our chicken and pasta. I don't suggest substituting either of these ingredients, since they do most of the heavy lifting in this recipe.

    Adding ingredients to a saucepan.

    Pasta water

    Before draining your pasta, reserve ½ cup of your pasta water and set aside for later. We'll use this to combine with our pesto sauce, which will emulsify with the starchy pasta water to create a 'creamy' sauce.

    This is the same method used to make the classic Spaghetti Aglio e Olio (Spaghetti with garlic and oil), another 5 ingredient dish.

    A white bowl filled with bow tie pasta and chicken.

    Optional additions

    For a vegetarian option, use a can of drained and rinsed cannellini beans instead of the canned chicken.

    If you'd like to add more to this recipe, try grating parmesan cheese over top before serving.

    Or, add a large handful of baby spinach with the pasta and chicken.

    Bow tie pasta coated in a basil pesto sauce.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 7 reviews

    Pesto Chicken Pasta

    Pesto Chicken Pasta is an easy, 20 minute meal that's made with just 5 shelf-stable ingredients. Bow tie pasta and chicken are coated in a rich and flavorful pesto sauce.
    Cook Time20 minutes
    Total Time20 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 490kcal
    Author: Heather

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounces dry pasta
    • ¼ cup pesto
    • 4 ounces sun-dried tomatoes in oil
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 12 ounces canned chicken, drained
    • salt and pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    • Cook pasta according to package directions. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of pasta water for a later step.
    • In a pot over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of oil from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes, then add sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, and minced garlic. Stir and cook for about 1 minute.
    • Add cooked pasta, pasta water, and chicken. Toss until ingredients are evenly combined. Cook for another 1-2 minutes or until ingredients are heated through.
    • Remove from heat, add salt and pepper as desired, and serve.

    Equipment Recommendations

    • SS 3-Quart Saucepan
    • Red Spoonula Set
    • Zwilling Pro Chef's Knife
    • 9" Fine Mesh Strainer

    Notes

    • Canned chicken can be substituted with: canned tuna, freshly cooked chicken, shredded rotisserie chicken, or a can of drained and rinsed cannellini beans. 
    • 2 garlic cloves can be substituted with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder. 
    • Want to add more to this dish? Add a large handful of baby spinach when adding pasta and chicken to the pot. Top with grated parmesan cheese before serving.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Calories: 490kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 634mg | Potassium: 706mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 828IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 3mg
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American

    More recipes

    • Pesto Tortellini
    • Spaghetti Aglio e Olio (Spaghetti with garlic and oil)
    • Pesto Mozzarella Chicken
    • Bacon and Spinach Stuffed Chicken

    More Entrée Recipes

    • Ravioli Casserole
    • Turkey Broccoli Casserole
    • Slow Cooker Spicy Bison Chili
    • Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup

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    Heather of The Toasty Kitchen

    Hi, I'm Heather of The Toasty Kitchen. I love cooking with real, unfussy ingredients, and I want to help you make homemade meals with ease.

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