One-Pan Chicken Pesto Pasta (Printer version)

Quick and vibrant dish with chicken, pasta, basil pesto, tomatoes, and spinach—all in a single skillet.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced

→ Vegetables & Herbs

02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 2 cups baby spinach, loosely packed

→ Pasta & Pantry

06 - 12 ounces penne or fusilli pasta, uncooked
07 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
08 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Sauce & Cheese

10 - 1/2 cup pesto
11 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

# Directions:

01 - Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until lightly browned on all sides, about 4–5 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
02 - In the same pan, add the chopped onion and cook for 2 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add uncooked pasta, chicken broth, and cherry tomatoes to the pan. Stir well to combine.
04 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most liquid is absorbed, 12–15 minutes.
05 - Return browned chicken to the pan along with baby spinach. Stir gently until spinach wilts.
06 - Remove from heat. Stir in the pesto and grated Parmesan cheese until evenly distributed and creamy.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and fresh basil if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pasta cooks in all that savory broth, soaking up every drop of flavor—no separate pots to scrub.
  • It’s a one-pan wonder that pulls off 'impressive dinner' in about half an hour, with minimal chopping and hardly any effort.
02 -
  • If you add the spinach too early, it’ll lose its color (and spirit)—wait until the last step.
  • Letting the broth fully absorb into the pasta instead of draining makes all the difference in flavor.
03 -
  • Cooking the pasta in the same pan infuses every bite with concentrated savoriness—never boil it separately.
  • If you have fresh basil, toss a handful in at the end for unbeatable fragrance.
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