Pasta with Chicken, Vegetables, and Spinach Pesto
Fragrant and vibrant, Pesto Chicken and Vegetables with Pasta is bound to become one of your preferred “go-to” dishes. Quick to make in less than 25 minutes, this pesto chicken pasta dish is highly adaptable. Replace the vegetables with whatever is currently in season. Utilize any robust pasta available in your cupboard. I’ve provided three distinct, homemade pesto recipes for you to select from, but high-quality store-bought pesto is just as effective when you're pressed for time.
Pasta with Pesto Chicken
For years, I've been preparing Pesto Chicken with Pasta, ever since I discovered my passion for the bold, lively tastes of pesto.
Using only a few ingredients – pesto, chicken, veggies, Parmesan cheese, and pasta – you can quickly prepare a tasty dinner. Throughout the years, I’ve replaced or incorporated different ingredients based on what I have available, what’s in season, or what I’m currently craving.
Reasons to Adore This Recipe
Fast and simple – prepared in less than 25 minutes.
Adaptable and flexible – works with any vegetables or pasta you have available, and you can use your preferred pesto, whether it's homemade or purchased.
Loaded with taste – lively, colorful, and fulfilling.
Perfect for leftover dishes – an clever method to utilize precooked chicken.
Kid-friendly – cherished by both children and adults.
Adaptable and flexible – works with any vegetables or pasta you have available, and you can use your preferred pesto, whether it's homemade or purchased.
Loaded with taste – lively, colorful, and fulfilling.
Perfect for leftover dishes – an clever method to utilize precooked chicken.
Kid-friendly – cherished by both children and adults.
Components for Pesto Pasta with Chicken and Vegetables
Here’s what you will require to prepare this simple and quick pasta meal (amounts are listed in the recipe card below):
Pre-cooked poultry. Pairs perfectly with poached, sautéed, roasted, or grilled chicken—whatever is available.
Pasta. Select a form that can withstand the substantial components. I’ve utilized linguine, tagliatelle, pappardelle, and penne, all yielding excellent outcomes.
Pesto sauce. Store-bought can be used, or any of my homemade options are great in this recipe: Pesto Genovese, Cilantro Pesto, or Spinach Basil Pesto.
Tomatoes dried by the sun. Incorporate vibrant, zesty complexity and a Mediterranean touch.
Sweet peppers. A combination of red and yellow introduces sweetness and creates a lovely contrast with the green pesto.
Amber onion. Imparts a fragrant taste and a touch of sweetness.
Asparagus. Offers vibrant, green hints and a touch of crispness.
Parmesan cheese. Mixed into the pesto and noodles, then scattered on top, it brings a nutty, salty depth to each mouthful!
Quick Tip: Ideal pasta shapes for this dish
Choose a pasta that can hold its own against the hearty chicken and vegetables. I enjoy linguine, tagliatelle, or pappardelle, but short shapes like penne or rigatoni are great as well.
Variations or Replacements for Ingredients
You’re not restricted to my ingredient list for this dish – many other vegetables can be used, either instead of or alongside, those in our recipe. Here are some suggestions:
- Zucchini
- Yellow Zucchini
- Fungi
- Broccoli
- Crimson Onion
- Shallots
This is certainly one of those recipes you can personalize!
Which pesto should I select?
I possess three amazing, vibrant pesto recipes, each of which complements this recipe perfectly:
- Pesto alla Genovese
- Cilantro Sauce
- Pesto with Spinach and Basil
Certainly, if you're pressed for time, opt for pre-made options! I suggest buying refrigerated pesto instead of the jarred variety, as the latter lacks flavor (in my opinion).
Instructions for Preparing Pesto Chicken and Pasta with Vegetables
Here are the 5 simple steps for preparing and presenting this recipe:
Prepare pasta according to the instructions on the package.
Heat a big pot of water until it reaches a boil. When boiling, incorporate salt and prepare pasta until it's al dente. Strain, put back in the pot, and mix with 1/4 cup pesto and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Add salt and pepper according to your preference.
Prepare the vegetables.
While the pasta is cooking, core, seed, and cut bell peppers into thin strips and chop into 1-inch pieces. Trim the fibrous ends of the asparagus and slice the stems into 1-inch segments.
In a big skillet, warm olive oil on medium heat until it's hot. Incorporate peppers, onions, and asparagus, cover and cook, stirring every 2 minutes, until they start to soften, approximately 5 minutes. Remove the lid and keep cooking, stirring now and then, for an additional 2 – 3 minutes or until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
Combine the vegetables with the remaining sauce components.
Lower the heat and mix in the chicken and sun-dried tomatoes; cook only until the chicken is warmed, about 2 minutes. Take off the heat and mix in 1/2 cup of pesto and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Add salt and pepper according to your preference.
Dish out and present.
Place cooked pasta in a large serving dish (or 4 individual plates or bowls) and add the chicken and vegetable mixture on top. Dust with the additional 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese (or more according to your preference). Serve right away.
Ways to Store, Freeze, and Reheat Chicken Veggie Pasta
I prefer to keep my cooked pasta and sauces stored separately; I believe it’s simpler to warm them up this way.
To store the cooked pasta, put it in a zip-top bag and keep it in the refrigerator for a maximum of 3 days. The sauce may also be stored in a zip-top bag or any sealed container in the refrigerator for as long as 3 days. After cooling, the noodles and sauce can be frozen for as long as 1 month.
To warm the pasta, put it in a microwave-safe dish, add a bit of water or olive oil, cover it, and microwave in 20-30 second intervals, stirring between, until heated through.
Do you add pesto to pasta before or after it's cooked?
Pesto must be served cold, so always incorporate it after the pasta is prepared.
Which pasta is suitable for pesto?
If pesto is the sole sauce component – without chicken or vegetables – I suggest opting for a finer pasta than advised in this recipe. You'll also desire one that will cling to the oil in the pesto. I would opt for angel hair or spaghetti.
What quantity of pesto should you incorporate into pasta?
According to this recipe, 3/4 cup of pesto combined with 1 pound of uncooked pasta is the ideal proportion.
Which type of meat pairs nicely with pesto pasta?
I enjoy chicken with pesto, as shown in this recipe. Yet, it’s truly effective on almost all types of meat – beef, pork, lamb. I actually enjoy it on fish!
What pairs nicely with Pesto Pasta and Vegetables?
The great thing about this pasta is that it's a full meal – it includes protein, carbohydrates, and an assortment of vegetables all in one plate! Feel free to accompany it with our preferred rolls or Nama’s Cornbread alongside.
Additional Chicken and Pasta Dishes
Angel Hair Pasta with Chicken and Artichokes in Caper Sauce
Pasta with Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Robert’s Simple Chicken Parmesan
Chicken and Orzo Salad with Peanut Sauce
Curried Chicken and Pasta Salad
Grilled Chicken with Noodles, Pecans, and Spring Greens
Creamy Chicken Sausage, Mushroom, and Spinach Pasta (Single Pot)
Trimmings
- 1 lb. Pasta
- 2 tbsp. cooked almonds
- 1 little clove garlic
- 1 tsp. lemon punch
- 4 oz. youngster spinach (around 4 cups)
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 2 tbsp. ground pecorino or Parmesan
- Authentic salt and pepper
- 1 pt. grape tomatoes
- 1½ c. obliterated rotisserie chicken
- ½ minimal Red Onion
Orientation
Cook the pasta according to package orientation. Hold 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, channel the pasta and return it to the pot.Red-velvet-cake-recipes.l
Meanwhile, in a food processor, beat the almonds, garlic and lemon punch until finely sliced. Add the spinach, oil, pecorino and 1/8 tsp each salt and pepper. Purée until smooth, scratching down the sides of the bowl as needs be.Asparagus-tuna-noodle-casserole.
Toss the pasta with the pesto, adding a piece of the saved cooking water expecting the pasta gives off an impression of being dry.
Add the tomatoes, chicken and onion to the pasta and toss to unite. Like it !!!Easiest-crab-salad-recipe.
Pasta with Chicken, Vegetables, and Spinach Pesto VIDEO
