One-Pot Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (Cut into bite-size pieces)
• 1 tbsp olive oil (For sautéing)
• 3 cloves garlic (Minced)
• 12 oz short pasta (Such as penne, fusilli, or rigatoni)
• 3 cup chicken broth (Low-sodium preferred)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 0.75 cup basil pesto (Prepared pesto)
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (Finely grated, plus more for serving if desired)
• salt (To taste; the broth, pesto, and Parmesan may already be salty)
• black pepper (To taste)
• fresh basil (Optional garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   Cut the chicken breasts into bite-size pieces and mince the garlic. Measure the pasta, broth, cream, pesto, and Parmesan so everything is ready before cooking.

2. 2

   Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces, season lightly with salt and black pepper, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned on the outside. The chicken does not need to be fully cooked yet.

3. 3

   Add the minced garlic to the pan and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned.

4. 4

   Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir thoroughly, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits.

5. 5

   Add the uncooked pasta and stir until it is mostly submerged in the liquid. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.

6. 6

   Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes so the pasta does not stick. Cook until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has become a creamy sauce.

7. 7

   Stir in the basil pesto and grated Parmesan. Continue stirring until the pesto is evenly distributed and the cheese has melted into the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, loosen it with a small splash of broth or hot water.

8. 8

   Check the chicken at the thickest pieces; it should be fully cooked and reach 165°F (74°C) internally. Taste the pasta and adjust the salt and black pepper.

9. 9

   Remove the pan from the heat and let the pasta stand for 2 minutes so the sauce can thicken slightly. Garnish with fresh basil and additional Parmesan, if desired, and serve hot.

Notes

The provided TikTok description identifies the dish but does not include the actual ingredient list, quantities, or instructions; the recipe above is a clearly labeled reconstruction based on the dish description. Pasta absorbs sauce as it stands, so add a splash of broth or water when reheating. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheat gently.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• pasta
• chicken
• one-pot
• Italian-inspired
• creamy
• high-protein
• weeknight dinner