Home PoultryChicken Creamy Pesto and Chicken Pasta

Creamy Pesto and Chicken Pasta

by Jamie

I know your hot. 


Let me rephrase that. 


What I meant to say is, I know it’s hot this summer and that you must be hot because you and summer are existing together right now and summer is hot, man. Really hot. 


Which leads me to believe, you might not like heating up your oven, but you still might want a meal that is knock your socks of fabulous. Even though it’s hot, right?


Right. 


Make this Creamy Pesto and Chicken Pasta, my friends. You don’t need to crank up your oven, it’s all made on the stove top in 30 minutes or less. Flavorful golden brown chicken breasts are topped with creamy pesto sauce and served over a bed of warm pasta. You can make it with any kind of pasta really. The choice is up to you. My family loves it with bowtie, penne, or the corkskrew pasta you see in the pictures. 


Hope you make it and love it. 


You…


and your hotter than hot


self. 🙂 

Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake
Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 5-6 servings
Recipe from Jamie Cooks It Up!
PRINT RECIPE
PRINT RECIPE WITH PICTURE


Chicken:
4-5 chicken breasts
1/2 C flour
1/8 t salt
dash pepper
3 T olive oil


Sauce: 
1 (6.25 ounce) jar pesto (just a bit less than 1 cup)
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 C milk
1 C chicken broth
1/2 t sugar
1 T butter


Pasta:
1/2 (16 ounce) box bowtie, penne or corkscrew pasta



1. Cut your chicken breasts into 3 inch chunks and set them aside. 
2. Toss 1/2 cup flour, 1/8 teaspoon of salt and a dash of pepper into a loaf pan. 



3. Heat a large skillet up over medium high heat. Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan and let it get hot. 



3. Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour and then carefully place them in the hot pan. Turn the heat down to medium low.  Let the chicken get nice and golden brown on the bottom. Then turn them over and let them get golden brown on the other side. When the chicken has cooked through remove from the pan and onto a clean plate. Cover the plate with tin foil and set it aside.
4. While your chicken cooks, boil some water and cook your pasta according to the package directions.  

 Look at all of those tasty bits of heaven in the pan. Those beauties are going to give your sauce a nice extra layer of flavor. That’s what your family wants for dinner you know…extra layers of flavor. Just go ahead and ask them, I’m sure they will know what you’re talking about. 
Especially your 3 year old. 




5. Pour 1 cup of chicken broth  



and 1 cup of milk (I used 1 %) into the hot pan. Use a whisk to break up the crispy chicken leftovers in the bottom of your pan. 



6. Add just a bit less than 1 cup of pesto, 



and one block of softened cream cheese. Give it a nice stir. The cream cheese will start to melt down and incorporate into the sauce. Don’t worry if it is chunky at first. 



7. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat, whisking it occasionally. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes, or until it thickens up a bit. 
8. Remove the pan from the heat and add 1/2 teaspoon sugar and 1 T butter. If your sauce is too thick, add a bit more milk to thin it out. 
9. Serve immediately over hot pasta. The sauce with continue to thicken as it cools, so it’s best to eat it soon after you make it. 


Enjoy!

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13 comments

Kimberly C February 14, 2013 - 4:04 pm

Love this! Didn’t think my family were huge pesto fans but all of them thought it was yummy! Shared the recipe with family and they are all hooked too! Thank you!

Reply
Sharon Smith February 22, 2013 - 9:56 am

Where did you buy the Mezzetta Pesto? I was at Walmart today and couldn’t find it. Would this recipe be good with the pesto you get from Costco? I put this on my menu this week, so I can’t wait to try it. The turkey provolone pesto melts is one of my families new favorites! When I ask what they want on the menu, they always want those! I just have to say I know someone that lives in your area…Emilie Bashore. She tells me how good your treats are!

Reply
March Menu Plan 2013 March 3, 2013 - 11:29 pm

[…]  Creamy Pesto and Chicken Pasta […]

Reply
Tammy March 8, 2013 - 4:38 pm

Would this work with light cream cheese? Sounds yummy. Thanks.

Reply
Jamie March 11, 2013 - 7:11 am

Tammy,
I haven’t ever tried it with light cream cheese, though I think it would work. It just wouldn’t be as rich. Good luck! Hope you love it.
~Jamie

Reply
Luke March 25, 2013 - 8:14 pm

@Sharon: that specific pesto is @ Vons.

Reply
Hayley May 22, 2013 - 5:58 pm

This was really good. Thanks.

Reply
Sasha (The Procrastobaker) May 29, 2013 - 9:10 pm

I can’t believe I’ve never commented on this! Back when I was in the UK I made this mannnnyyyy times, it became a firm favourite. Now Im in New Zealand and moved into a new home I decided to find this recipe again as I had cravings, so will be making it again soon! Wicked recipe indeed 🙂

Reply
Catherine September 3, 2013 - 11:51 am

This is a favorite in my house! We just had it this last weekend and my husband is already asking when we can have it again!

Reply
Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Shells - Like Mother, Like Daughter October 27, 2016 - 4:52 pm

[…] Creamy Pesto and Chicken Pasta on Jamie Cooks it Up! […]

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[…] Creamy Pesto and Chicken Pasta –Jamie Cooks It Up […]

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Kleith May 10, 2021 - 3:34 am

https://www.oracleglobe.com/talktomcalisters-survey/

Awesome recipe. the same is in McAlisters

Reply
Colleen July 6, 2022 - 7:10 pm

This is really bland. No flavor at all except for the pesto. That’s all you can really taste. No chicken flavor, no cream cheese flavor, etc. needs a lot of salt & pepper. Not making this again.

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