🌼 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- High-Protein & Satisfying: Made with protein pasta and lean chicken for a filling, nutritious meal.
- Restaurant-Level Flavor: Creamy pesto, juicy chicken, and fresh basil—simple ingredients, big flavor.
- Fast Weeknight Dinner: Ready in 20 minutes and perfect for meal prep.
- Ultra Versatile: Use any pasta shape, add veggies, or make it creamy—easy to customize.
- Balanced & Bright: Fresh cherry tomatoes and basil add color and freshness.
This healthy Chicken Pesto Protein Pasta combines tender seasoned chicken, protein-packed pasta, and bright basil pesto for a delicious, high-protein weeknight dinner. Fresh tomatoes and parmesan bring everything together for a vibrant, satisfying dish.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Cook Temperature: Medium-High Heat (stovetop)
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 8 oz protein pasta (Banza, Barilla Protein+, or chickpea pasta)
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
For the Chicken
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the Pesto Sauce
- ½ cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional for brightness)
Optional Add-Ins
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- Fresh basil leaves
- Extra Parmesan for serving
Directions
- Cook the pasta: Boil protein pasta according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
- Season the chicken: Toss chicken pieces with olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Cook the chicken: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 6–7 minutes, stirring until golden and cooked through.
- Prepare the sauce: Lower heat to medium. Add cooked pasta, pesto, Parmesan, and a splash of pasta water to the skillet.
- Combine: Stir until pasta is coated and sauce becomes creamy. Add more pasta water as needed.
- Add tomatoes: Fold in cherry tomatoes and warm for 1 minute (do not overcook).
- Serve: Top with fresh basil and extra Parmesan.
Recipe Notes & Variations
Variations
- Creamy Pesto Pasta: Add ¼ cup heavy cream or 2 tbsp Greek yogurt for extra creaminess.
- Veggie Boost: Add spinach, roasted broccoli, or sautéed zucchini.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free protein pasta or chickpea pasta.
- Low-Carb Version: Replace pasta with zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash.
Tips
- Protein pasta cooks faster than regular pasta—don’t overcook.
- Use fresh pesto for the best flavor and vibrant green color.
- Add pasta water gradually to keep the sauce silky, not watery.
🍽️ Nutrition Information (Per Serving)
(Assuming the recipe makes 2 servings — 1 serving shown below)
- Calories: 510
- Protein: 46g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Dietary Fiber: 4g
- Total Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 10g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
- Sodium: 720mg
- Sugar: 4g
- Vitamin A: 12% DV
- Vitamin C: 10% DV
- Calcium: 20% DV
- Iron: 15% DV
Tools You’ll Need
- Large Skillet – Get on Amazon
- Pasta Pot – Get on Amazon
- Colander / Strainer – Get on Amazon
- Cutting Board – Get on Amazon
- Chef’s Knife – Get on Amazon
- Wooden Spoon or Silicone Spatula – Get on Amazon
- Measuring Cups – Get on Amazon
