Veggie Pesto Pasta with Chicken
Chicken Pesto Pasta with Veggies is a well-rounded meal that comes together in 30 minutes, thanks to smart tricks that streamline the cooking process.
Pesto Pasta with Chicken
I’ve been on a mission the past few years to publish the recipes that my family and I really love and actually eat for dinner, and often. They might not always be the fanciest, but they’re tried and true!
Often, for the sheer ease of it, our weeknight meals are a protein, a carb and a few veggies, all mixed together. There’s no better way to do that than with a pasta dish.
Salmon pasta (with lots of spinach stirred in) exemplifies this cooking philosophy well, and there’s also this comforting Pesto Chicken Pasta recipe.
It comes together quickly, and it’s packed with veggie goodness like broccoli and asparagus, as well as delicious goodies like Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and little balls of mozzarella cheese. I hope you love it as much as we do.
Why You’ll Love this Pesto Chicken Pasta Recipe
- It comes together in 30 minutes, thanks to smart tricks like cooking the veggies in the pasta water.
- With a combination of protein from the chicken, carbohydrates from the pasta, and a variety of vitamins from the vegetables, it’s a well-rounded meal that will keep you nourished and satisfied.
- It’s a great way to sneak in some extra veggies for picky eaters.
Veggie Pesto Pasta Ingredients
- pasta – just about any variety will do, more on this in the FAQ below.
- asparagus – cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces for easy eating.
- broccoli – cut into small florets to make it bite-sized.
- olive oil – for cooking the chicken in the skillet.
- chicken – my family prefers boneless skinless chicken thighs for this pesto chicken pasta recipe, since they have so much flavor, but you can use diced breast or tenderloins instead.
- peas – I use frozen green peas that I thaw at room temperature while I prep the rest of my ingredients.
- garlic – adds depth of flavor to just about any pasta dish.
- basil pesto – you can use our recipe for the best homemade pesto, or store bought is absolutely fine.
- lemon zest – this adds a brightness that I like in this veggie pesto pasta.
- Parmesan cheese – we’re tossing grated Parm in with the pasta, and then garnishing the finished dish with a bit of shaved Parm, but you can use all grated or all shaved, it really doesn’t matter.
- mozzarella cheese – fresh mozzarella, not the shredded kind in a bag. I bought “pearl sized” small balls of fresh mozzarella. You could also buy a bigger hunk and dice it up. Either way!
- salt and pepper – seasons the entire dish so that it tastes its best.
- pine nuts – since pesto is traditionally made with ground pine nuts, adding extra whole pine nuts kind of reinforces that pesto goodness.
- fresh basil – optional, but I like the fresh leaves for garnish.
How to Make Pesto Pasta with Chicken
1. CHOP. Cut the asparagus crosswise into 1 to 2-inch pieces, and cut the broccoli into small florets.
2. BOIL. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water, according to package instructions for al dente. Add the asparagus and broccoli to the pot in the last 1 minute of pasta cooking time. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain everything and set it aside.
3. SAUTE. While the pasta is cooking, heat some oil in a large high-sided skillet and cook the chicken until it is golden brown and cooked through. Add the peas and garlic and cook for another minute.
4. TOSS. Add the pesto, lemon zest, grated Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, pasta, broccoli, asparagus and 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water to the skillet with the chicken and toss until everything is well combined. Adjust consistency with additional pasta water if sauce is too thick.
5. FINISH. Remove the pasta from the heat and fold in the mozzarella pearls. Serve garnished with pine nuts, basil leaves and additional shaved Parmesan.
How to Make Pesto Pasta with Veggies ahead of time
If you’d like to meal prep this pesto pasta with chicken to have a dinner ready for a busy weeknight, I suggest turning it into a baked pasta dish!
Follow the recipe card below, but after you fold in the mozzarella pearls, transfer the mixture to a baking dish coated in nonstick cooking spray.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, and then bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until everything is warmed through. Serve garnished with pine nuts, basil leaves and additional shaved Parmesan.
Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe Variations & Substitutions
- VEGETARIAN – Omit the chicken and add extra veggies like mushrooms, zucchini or halved cherry tomatoes. Because Parmesan cheese is often not vegetarian, you would also need to use makes suer to use a vegetarian Parmesan.
- GLUTEN FREE – Use a gluten-free pasta (and double check the label on any store-bought pesto) to make this recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivies.
- DAIRY FREE – Skip the cheeses (and double check the label on any store-bought pesto) or use dairy-free alternatives.
Pesto Veggie Pasta Home Chef Tips
- For the best flavor, toast the pine nuts before adding them to this dish.
- The best prepared basil pesto from the grocery store is usually located near the refrigerated pasta like tortellini and ravioli (not the shelf stable jar of pesto in the boxed pasta aisle).
- I most often buy the Buitoni brand, which is made with basil, Parmesan cheese and pine nuts. Rana brand is also good for pesto veggie pasta.
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How to serve Pesto Pasta with Veggies
Truly, this is a whole, satisfying meal all in one dish. You don’t need a vegetable side dish, because there are so many veggies in the pasta itself.
Serve this chicken pesto pasta recipe with our homemade garlic bread recipe or easy yeast rolls for mopping up any extra pesto.
How to store Pesto Veggie Pasta
Cool leftovers to room temperature and then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers in a skillet over low heat with a splash of water or chicken broth.
Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe FAQs
I’ve used penne for this pesto pasta with veggies, but this is one of those instances where literally almost any type of pasta will work. Any short shape like shells or elbows is great. Or a medium shape like rigatoni or cavatappi or bowties. Even spaghetti or fettuccine.
And you can use regular or whole wheat, or even an alternative pasta like chickpea or lentil pasta. Whatever you have in your cupboard is what you should use!
The nuts and cheese in pesto contribute to its thick texture. If you’ve made homemade pesto and found that it’s too thin, you can add more nuts or cheese to thicken it to your desired consistency.
Reserve more pasta water than you think you’ll need. Adjust the sauciness of this pesto chicken pasta recipe by adding splashes of pasta water until it’s the consistency you desire.
Chicken Pesto Pasta with Veggies
Ingredients
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 1 cup asparagus spears cut into 1” pieces
- 1 cup small broccoli florets
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup frozen green peas thawed
- ¾ cup prepared basil pesto
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup pearl size fresh mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts for serving
- Fresh basil leaves for serving
- Shaved Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Heat large pot of salted water to boiling over high heat. Add pasta and cook according to package directions for al dente. Add asparagus and broccoli to pot during last 1 minute of pasta cooking time (or last 2 minutes for softer cooked vegetables). Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain everything and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in large high-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 5 to 6 minutes or until golden brown and almost cooked through, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and peas; cook 1 minute.
- Add pesto, grated Parmesan, lemon zest, salt, pepper, pasta, asparagus, broccoli and 1/2 cup reserved pasta cooking water to skillet; toss until well combined. Thin with additional pasta water if sauce is too thick.
- Remove from heat; fold in mozzarella cheese. Serve immediately, garnished with pine nuts, basil leaves and shaved Parmesan.
Notes
- For the best flavor, toast the pine nuts before adding them to this dish.
- The best prepared basil pesto from the grocery store is usually located near the refrigerated pasta like tortellini and ravioli (not the shelf stable jar of pesto in the boxed pasta aisle).
- I most often buy the Buitoni brand, which is made with basil, Parmesan cheese and pine nuts. Rana brand is also good for pesto veggie pasta.
This sounds like a great meal. I love having meals where everything is one pot (or close to it). The one thing I would do differently is to use spaghetti squash in place of the pasta, since I can’t afford to eat a lot of carbs.
Thanks so much, Susan! I agree, one pot meals, or as close to it as possible, are the best thing ever. Have a great weekend!
I’ve been on a pasta kick lately, and this recipe will definitely help me shake things up. Thanks for sharing– I can’t wait to try it!
I’ve been on a pasta kick lately too, Tess. Winter is a good time for it 😉