Creamy Pesto Pasta with Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
This creamy pesto pasta with chicken and sun-dried tomatoes is a quick and easy weeknight dinner that's packed with flavor. The pesto sauce is made with fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and olive oil, and it's tossed with cooked chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and heavy cream. The pasta is cooked al dente and tossed with the sauce, and the dish is finished with a sprinkling of fresh basil. This dish is sure to please everyone at the table.
I first had this dish at a restaurant in Italy, and I was immediately hooked. The combination of the creamy pesto sauce, the tender chicken, and the sun-dried tomatoes was irresistible. I've been making this dish at home ever since, and it's always a hit with my family and friends. I've experimented with different variations of the recipe over the years, but this is the version that I always come back to. It's simple to make, but it's always delicious.
Prep time: 15 | Cook time: 30 | Serves: 4
Ingredients
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup pesto sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
12 ounces pasta, cooked and drained
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper and place in a baking dish.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through.
While the chicken is cooking, make the pesto sauce.
In a food processor, combine the pesto sauce, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil.
Process until smooth.
Once the chicken is cooked, slice it into strips.
Add the chicken to the pasta and toss to coat.
Why It Works
The pesto sauce is made with fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and olive oil, which gives it a bright and herbaceous flavor.
The chicken is cooked until it's tender and juicy, and it absorbs the flavors of the pesto sauce.
The sun-dried tomatoes add a sweet and tangy flavor to the dish.
The heavy cream gives the sauce a rich and creamy texture.
The pasta is cooked al dente, which means it's still slightly firm to the bite.
The fresh basil adds a final touch of flavor and freshness to the dish.