Creamy chicken pesto pasta is a rich and indulgent dish that combines tender chicken, fresh pesto, and a creamy sauce for a satisfying, flavorful meal. This dish is perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner, a special gathering, or when you want to treat yourself to a comforting bowl of pasta with a burst of bright, herby flavor.
To prepare creamy chicken pesto pasta, start by cooking your favorite pasta – whether it’s penne, fettuccine, or spaghetti – until al dente. While the pasta cooks, season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and a bit of olive oil, then cook them until golden brown and cooked through. The chicken is sliced into strips or chunks, ready to be mixed into the pasta.
The star of this dish is the pesto sauce, made from fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, all blended together until smooth. To create the creamy texture, a generous amount of heavy cream or half-and-half is added to the pesto, transforming it into a velvety sauce that coats the pasta beautifully. The pesto cream sauce is then tossed with the cooked pasta and chicken, ensuring that each bite is rich and flavorful.
For extra depth of flavor, you can also add sautéed mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, or roasted vegetables, which complement the creamy pesto sauce and make the dish even more satisfying. A sprinkle of additional Parmesan cheese and a handful of fresh basil leaves on top make for a finishing touch that adds both flavor and visual appeal.
Creamy chicken pesto pasta is a versatile dish that can be customized to suit your tastes, whether you prefer a bit of heat from red pepper flakes, extra richness from a dollop of ricotta, or a touch of lemon zest to brighten up the flavors.
For drinks, a light white wine like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc pairs wonderfully with this rich, creamy pasta. Alternatively, a crisp sparkling water or iced tea offers a refreshing contrast.
This creamy chicken pesto pasta is a perfect balance of herby, savory, and creamy, making it a dish that’s sure to please everyone at the table.
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3/4 cup pesto store-bought or homemade
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 12 ounces pasta such as penne or fettuccine
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus extra for serving
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low, stir in the pesto and heavy cream, and let it simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese, and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
Nutrition
I followed the recipe exactly and it taste like nothing special. I mean, what’s with chicken and pesto? I expected more flavor!!
Not bad, but I think I added too much salt. Next time I’ll be more careful. Also, couldn’t find fettuccine, so used spaghetti. 🤷♂️
Yum! So easy to make and my kids loved it! Doubled the parmesan for extra cheesiness. Will make it again, for sure!
This was a total hit at my family dinner! Rich and creamy, just the way I like my pasta. Definitely making it again!
Rich and creamy? Sounds like it has too much cream for me. I prefer a lighter sauce.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! This recipe really is a winner! Can’t wait to try it myself.
Not bad, but 3/4 cup pesto felt like a lot for my taste. I’ll cut it down next time or add more cream/cheese to balance.
I added sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor, and it was a game changer! So good. Also, more cheese please!
I don’t understand why you need heavy cream. Seems unnecessary.
Heavy cream is what makes it creamy! I think it’s a key ingredient for sure.
This was super easy to make! My family loved it!
The chicken was cooked perfectly, but I think the pesto could be stronger. I used homemade but it felt a bit bland.
Could you use chicken thighs instead? I got some in my fridge.
Yes, chicken thighs would work great! They’ll add more flavor and stay juicy. Enjoy your cooking!
I dunno if thighs are the best for this… the recipe calls for breasts for a reason, right?
Pasta and chicken? yummm! But how about a vegan version?
I love vegan food too! Maybe you can try replacing the chicken with tofu and use cashew cream? Would be great!
Kinda bland for my taste. Needs more spices! 🙁
I actually found it pretty tasty! Maybe try adding some red pepper flakes or garlic? That could spice it up!
Bland? Seriously? I thought it was flavorful! Are you sure you followed the recipe right?
Yummy! 😋 Simple to make and quick. Will make again!
Made this tonight and it was insanely good—creamy, flavorful, and the pesto really shines. I used homemade pesto and added a squeeze of lemon at the end. Will definitely repeat.
I think this was easy and quick, I like easy meals. Good job!
Yum!
Is it really that easy? I feel like I’m missing something. 🤔
I didn’t have pesto, so I used tomato sauce instead. It was a disaster.
Disaster! My chicken was undercooked and now I’m worried. Where did I go wrong?!
This pasta is incredible! So creamy and flavorful. My kids devoured it!
Ingredients list seems too long. Can I skip the cream? Asking for a friend…
Hmm, not sure skipping major ingredients is a good idea. You lose flavor, y’know?
You can totally skip the cream! It’ll still taste good, just a little less creamy. 😄
It’s just pasta and chicken…nothing special. 1 star.
This recpie has too much cream. Made us sick! Never again.
I followed the recipe but mine turned out kinda bland until I added more salt. Once seasoned properly it was great. Don’t skip tasting and adjusting!
Yes!! I learned the hard way that pesto + cream can be a little “meh” without enough salt. I always taste at step 5 and adjust—glad yours turned out great once you did.
This was amazing! My whole family loved it, especially my kids! Definitely a keeper!
Didn’t turn out well for me, the chicken was dry. 😕
Not bad, but my pesto was really salty so I barely added any extra salt. Keep an eye on seasoning—Parmesan is already salty too.
I found it a little too rich for my taste. Maybe less cream next time?
I totally agree! The cream part can be overwhelming. I usually just use half the amount. Gives it a nice balance!
I don’t understand why people love pesto so much. I used to like it but now it just tastes weird.
I totally get what you mean! Pesto can be really hit or miss. Some people just love that herby flavor, but others find it kind of overwhelming. It’s all about personal taste!
Pretty easy weeknight meal. I used store-bought pesto and it still tasted fresh. Next time I’ll add a little garlic.
Not impressed. The chicken got dry and the sauce was too thick.
I think the sauce is supposed to be thick! But maybe try adding some pasta water next time? It helps thin it out a bit.
Dry chicken? That sucks! Maybe you cooked it too long? I always struggle with chicken being juicy too.
I was skeptical about the heavy cream with pesto but it turned out great! Tastes sooo good!
I can’t believe you put heavy cream with pesto! That sounds wild, but I’m curious to try it now. Maybe I just have to trust you on this one.
Yummy! But can I skip the cheese? I’m lactose intolerant.
I’m not sure this is how pasta should be, but my husband liked it. 😂
Idk, it just didn’t taste right. Felt too greasy for me.
I added sun-dried tomatoes and it was bomb!!! You should try that!!
My grandma made a similar dish but with different herbs. This tasted okay but not as good.
Used fettuccine and it turned out okay, but mine looked more like a sauce than a dish. Might need less cream? Or more cheese?
Didn’t have heavy cream, used milk instead. It worked out fine, I think.
I was skeptical at first, but it turned out better than I expected. Quick and easy.
I’m so glad it worked out for you! This recipe is a hit in my house. 😋
Quick and easy? Sounds like you didn’t need too many fancy skills. I don’t think it could be that good. 🤔
It was okay. I expected more flavor. Maybe use more pesto?
I don’t know… it was too creamy for my taste. Maybe less cream next time?
Serious question here: Can I use frozen chicken? Don’t wanna mess it up.
It was okay, but I think it needed more spice or something. A bit bland for my taste.
This was soooo good! My whole family loved it.
Chicken cooked in 5-7 minutes? Mine took longer, like 12, because I cut it too big. But once it was done, the flavor was great. Worth the wait.
Simple and easy recipe. I added some cherry tomatoes and spinach for extra color. Yum!
I burned the chicken, oops! Still tasted okay though, I guess.
I tried making this with tofu instead of chicken and it worked out fine!
Tofu? That’s interesting! I never thought it would work in a pasta dish like this. How did the texture turn out?
Ew, tofu? Why would you do that when chicken is already so good? This recipe is for chicken, not some veg stuff!
I followed the steps exactly and it came out kinda bland until I added more pepper and salt. Once seasoned, it was way better. For the pesto, I used a basil one that’s not too salty.
really easy to make but kinda bland. needs more seasoning!!
Not sure I’m sold on pesto + heavy cream together. It tasted fine, but the flavor felt kinda flat to me. Maybe I under-seasoned?
This was amazing! So creamy and delicious. My family loved it!
Made this tonight and it was soooo creamy. The pesto really pops, and the Parmesan at the end made it perfect. Will definitely repeat!
I’m not sure about the 2 minutes simmer—felt like the sauce never fully came together. Also the pesto was salty so I had to go light on the salt.
Yeah the pesto can be super salty. I skip salting at the end (use only pepper), and I only add Parmesan if it’s not already salty. Next time try a low-sodium pesto.
Totally get it—2 minutes can be too quick depending on the pan and how warm your skillet is. I usually simmer closer to 5 minutes until it looks slightly thicker and more cohesive.
Uhm, is this really a pasta recipe? Feels like a lot of sauce… not sure if I did it right.
It is a pasta recipe! The creamy sauce is what makes it special. Just give it a try! 😋
yummy!! 🙂 10/10 recommend!
I used spinach pesto instead and it was bomb! Highly recommend!
Too much cheese for my taste. Next time, I will skip it. Also, kinda salty.
I’m allergic to chicken, what can I use instead? This sounds yummy.
Way too creamy for my taste… I wanted something lighter. Also the pesto + cream combo felt kinda heavy. I’ll eat it, but probably not again.
Is 1 cup really just enough? Seems like too much pasta for the sauce!!
Yum! I used chicken thighs instead, better flavor if u ask me. Do what u like.
I didn’t have penne, so I used rice instead and it turned out alright. Do you think that’s weird?
Using rice instead of pasta? That’s kinda different, but if it works for you, go for it! Cooking is all about experimenting!
I found it too rich, maybe less cream next time. Still good, though.
chicken+ pesto= yum!
um… 2 mins simmer is not enough i think. Mine was cold in the middle and the cheese didnt melt right. Might be my stove tho.
I agree with you—2 minutes seems super short, especially if the sauce is still bubbling but the pasta/chicken isn’t really warming through together. I usually simmer 5-ish minutes on low after adding the cream and pesto, then stir in the Parmesan off the heat (or lower heat) so it melts smooth. Also your stove could totally be the culprit—medium-low makes a big difference.
I think 1 pound of chicken is too much for 12 ounces of pasta? It felt like the ratio was off and I had more chicken than sauce. I’d either reduce chicken or increase cream/pesto next time.
Pretty good, but I had to stretch it. My sauce got a little thick, so I splashed in some pasta water. Also, 2 minutes simmer wasn’t enough for me—next time I’ll do 3-4. Still tasty though!
Pretty solid. I used homemade pesto and it came out flavorful, but mine got a little thick after simmering—next time I’ll loosen with a splash of pasta water.
That sounds right—pesto + cream can thicken fast once it simmers. Pasta water is a great fix!