Sunday, April 19, 2015

Chicken Pesto Pasta {recipe}

Last Friday at 2:30pm I realized that I hadn't thought about dinner {nor had meal planned & grocery shopped for a few days}. My basil plant has been growing well and I needed to prune it, so I racked my brain for what I could make that used fresh basil. I remembered {this} recipe we made a while ago and loosely followed it.
It turned out fantastic.  The family devoured it and there was zip, zilch, nada left over! {I'll double it next time}:

Chicken Pesto Pasta

1 package penne pasta
olive oil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (seasoned with garlic salt & pepper) cooked and cubed
1 red onion, chopped
3-4 Roma tomatoes, chopped
5-6 fresh basil leaves, sliced thinly
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup basil pesto*
fresh grated parmesan cheese

Cook noodles according to package directions, and while the noodles are cooking . . . 

Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan. Add onion and sauté 3-5 minutes until soft. Add tomatoes, fresh basil, salt,  and 1/3 cup of water from the cooking noodles. 

Reduce heat to low and simmer the sauce for 5 minutes (adding more pasta water if needed).

Drain noodles and add to the sauce {I reserved 2 cups to make sure I had enough sauce to coat there noodles}. Add in the chicken and pesto and stir to incorporate. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve.

*Pesto - I make my own that doesn't use pine nuts {I never have those on hand!}

Basil Pesto
2 large handfuls fresh basil leaves
1 clove crushed garlic
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1-2 tablespoons EVOO
salt and pepper

Add ingredients into a chopper {I like my ninja} and blend together. These measurements are approximate - you can add more or less to adjust it to your taste. This made about a 1/2 cup of pesto.
~
Linking up at:  Made From Pinterest

6 comments:

  1. This looks delicious and I think I have ALL the ingredients to make it! Thanks for sharing. I'll be trying it this week! Remember to link-up again tomorrow for another Tuesday Talk!
    Sarah (co-host)
    www.sarahefrazer.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yum!! We are definitely a pasta-lovin' family~ Thanks for sharing on "Tuesday Talk" - So glad to have connected with your space!

    Elizabeth
    allkindsofthingsblog.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yummy! Thank you so much for sharing at Waiting on...Wednesday!

    Holly
    www.iwillservewhileiwait.blogspot.com

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Thanks for taking the time to comment! I love reading and responding to each one!