Chicken Pesto Pasta is a quick, easy and creamy pasta loaded with juicy chicken and tender asparagus!
We love creamy Alfredo pastas like our Chicken Alfredo or Creamy Shrimp Pasta. Pesto pasta takes a cream sauce to the next level!
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Chicken Pesto Pasta!
This Chicken Asparagus Pesto Pasta was shared by one of our readers, Katie N., and it was love at first bite – an instant hit! You won’t believe how easy it is with a very short list of ingredients. All you need is heavy whipping cream and basil pesto for the sauce. The chicken, asparagus and sauce are all cooked in one skillet and it doesn’t get any easier. Thank you Katie for generously sharing your amazing recipe with all of us!
What is Pesto Sauce?
Pesto is a creamy blended bright green sauce originally from Italy. The ingredients in a good pesto are typically: basil, nuts (often pine nuts), parmesan, garlic and olive oil. Click here for our best homemade pesto recipe. Adding pesto to the cream sauce adds amazing flavor.
If you’re looking for a good store-bought pesto, our favorite is the Kirkland signature pesto from Costco. Whether you make or buy pesto, you can use the rest to make chicken pesto roll-ups, or freeze portions to make pesto pasta another day.
What kind of pasta is best for creamy pasta?
You can use your favorite pasta which is what we love about this recipe. We use what we have on hand but these are pasta varieties that work well with cream sauce pastas:
- Fettuccini noodles
- Linguine pasta
- Spaghetti
- Penne pasta
- Pappardelle
- Rigatoni
What Other Vegetables Can I use in Pesto Pasta?
You can omit the asparagus altogether and the recipe will still work well, or try substituting with these healthy vegetables to make it a meal:
- Broccoli Florets
- Snap Peas
- Blanched green beans
- Frozen peas (or add cooked peas at the end)
- 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes (added at the end)
Can Creamy Pasta be Reheated?
The general rule of thumb for reheating a creamy sauce is LOW and SLOW. Warm the pasta on low heat, stirring often or in short intervals in the microwave. If you overheat, the cream can separate and seem oily. To make the sauce creamier, add a splash of water, milk, half and half or cream before heating.
More 30 Minute Meals to Try:
- Shrimp Fried Rice – easy peasy and great for meal prep!
- Shrimp Scampi Pasta with Asparagus – light and flavorful
- Chicken Stir Fry – so saucy and comes together quickly
- Beef Chili – hearty, beefy and reheats so well
- Chicken Fried Rice – genius way to use leftovers
