Creamy Cheesy Chicken Pesto Pasta

heavy cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: milk + cornstarch

Greek yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast is lower in fat and adds a cheesy flavor.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: cheddar cheese

Part-skim mozzarella has less fat, while cheddar is often cheaper.

Trim off any fat from the boneless chicken breast using kitchen shears.

Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, ensuring they are approximately the same size for even cooking.

Season one side of the chicken pieces with salt and black pepper.

Set the seasoned chicken aside while preparing other ingredients.

Dice the garlic finely after slicing it into thin rounds.

Finely dice the onion, using what you have on hand, including pre-cut strips.

Shred fresh parmesan cheese for the sauce, or use pre-shredded cheese if preferred.

Prepare chicken broth, dissolving chicken bouillon in hot water if using.

Blister cherry tomatoes in a pan on high heat with a little olive oil and salt.

Cook the chicken in a pan on high heat for about 4 minutes, flipping it halfway through with a spatula and kitchen tongs.

While the chicken cooks, add spaghetti to boiling salted water and stir to prevent sticking.

Transfer the cooked chicken to a large bowl without cleaning the pan.

Add olive oil and diced onions to the same pan, cooking until slightly translucent, about 2 minutes.

Add garlic to the pan with the onions and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Pour in the chicken broth and mix it around in the pan.

Add heavy cream to the mixture and stir with a plastic whisk to avoid scratching the pan.

Add shredded parmesan cheese to the sauce, allowing it to melt and thicken.

Make a slurry with flour and water, adding it to the sauce to help thicken it further.

Add the pesto to the creamy cheese sauce and mix until well combined, adjusting the amount to taste.

Let the sauce sit off the heat for a couple of minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, chicken, and creamy pesto sauce, mixing well with kitchen tongs.

Transfer the pasta to a large platter or leave it in the bowl for serving.

Garnish the dish with blistered cherry tomatoes and fresh basil before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens