Creamy Pesto Chicken Cavatappi Pasta - Cavatappi pasta tossed with tender pieces of chicken breast in a rich and creamy pesto sauce. Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes.
Serve Creamy Pesto Chicken Cavatappi Pasta as an easy family friendly Italian dinner with garlic bread and a side salad.
This recipe will serve about 4-5 people depending on everyone's appetite. This recipe can be easily doubled or even tripled if cooking for a larger crowd.
Ingredients You Need To Make Chicken Pesto Cavatappi:
Cavatappi Pasta - Use a half pound of cavatappi or other short-cut pasta.
Chicken Breast - You'll need one pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
Pesto - Use your favorite jarred pesto sauce or use my homemade Pesto Recipe.
Heavy Cream - Heavy creams gives the pasta sauce a rich and creamy flavor that compliments the pesto perfectly.
Parmesan Cheese - High quality parmesan cheese is best.
Butter - You can use salted or unsalted butter. We use a combination of butter and oil to sauté the onions and garlic and to sear the chicken breast.
Oil - Use olive or avocado oil.
Onion - We use yellow or white onion in this recipe.
Garlic - Fresh garlic cloves are best.
Seasonings - Salt, Black Pepper, Garlic Powder.
How To Make Creamy Chicken Pesto Cavatappi Pasta:
Cook cavatappi pasta according to package instructions. When done, drain and set aside for later.
While your pasta cooks, prepare the chicken breasts by pounding them to an even thickness. Season both sides with salt and black pepper.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ½ tablespoon butter and ½ tablespoon oil to a large skillet. Add seasoned chicken breast to the skillet and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side until cooked through to at least 165 degrees. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into bite size chunks.
In the same skillet add remaining ½ tablespoon butter and oil over medium heat. Add onions and a pinch of salt. Cook until tender. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Slowly stir in heavy cream and pesto sauce. Stir in parmesan cheese. Cook until sauce lightly thickens.
Add chicken and cavatappi to your sauce and stir to combine. Serve pasta with fresh grated parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes.
Tools You Need To Make Chicken Pasta:
- Large Skillet + Large Saucepan – To boil your pasta and for cooking the chicken and pasta sauce.
- Measuring Cups + Spoons – To properly measure all of your ingredients.
- Cheese Grater - To grate your parmesan cheese. This grater is awesome.
- Cutting Board + Chef Knife - For chopping the veggies and chicken.
More Chicken Pasta Recipes:
Southwest Chicken Alfredo - Made with seasoned pan seared chicken, onions, garlic and penne pasta tossed in a mouthwatering southwest style cream sauce.
Spicy Chipotle Chicken Pasta - Mouthwatering delicious pasta recipe made with chicken, peppers, onions and peas tossed a creamy, slightly sweet and spicy chipotle sauce
Blackened Chicken Alfredo - Penne pasta and pieces of blackened chicken tossed in a creamy homemade Alfredo sauce.
Cheddar Chicken Broccoli Pasta - The most delicious cheesy chicken pasta loaded with broccoli in a creamy sauce.
Creamy Pesto Chicken Cavatappi
Ingredients
- ½ lb Cavatappi Pasta
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 lb Chicken Breast boneless, skinless
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Small Onion chopped
- 3 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1 ¼ cup Heavy Cream
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
Instructions
- Cook cavatappi pasta according to package instructions. When done, drain and set aside for later.
- While your pasta cooks, prepare the chicken breasts by pounding them to an even thickness. Season both sides with salt and black pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ½ tablespoon butter and ½ tablespoon oil to a large skillet. Add seasoned chicken breast to the skillet and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side until cooked through to at least 165 degrees. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into bite size chunks.
- In the same skillet add remaining ½ tablespoon butter and oil over medium heat. Add onions and a pinch of salt. Cook until tender. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Slowly stir in heavy cream and pesto sauce. Stir in parmesan cheese. Cook until sauce lightly thickens.
- Add chicken and cavatappi to your sauce and stir to combine. Serve pasta with fresh grated parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes.
Nutrition
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