Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta with Spinach and Sun-dried Tomatoes
This creamy chicken pesto pasta recipe has tender pan-fried chicken with a delicious sun-dried tomato and spinach pesto sauce. It comes together in about 30 minutes!
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta
- 2 chicken breasts cut into half lengthwise
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1/4 cup pesto
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice or more to taste
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
- Freshly grated parmesan for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Boil a large, salted pot of water for the pasta. Cook al dente according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, cut the chicken lengthwise so you've got 4 thinner pieces. Season them with the garlic powder and salt & pepper.
- Heat the oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add the chicken and cook for 5-6 minutes/side or until it's cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate. Let it rest for a few minutes and then slice it into bite-size pieces.
- Sprinkle the flour into the skillet and cook for about 1 minute (there should still be some butter/oil in there, but if the pan is dry, add 1 tablespoon butter first).
- Add in the chicken broth, cream, pesto, lemon juice, and sun-dried tomatoes to the pan. Scrape up any brown bits from the bottom. Let it gently simmer for a few minutes until it's thickened up a bit.
- Stir in the spinach and let it wilt. Add in the drained pasta (add some of the hot pasta water prior to draining it if the sauce appears a bit thick) and toss.
- Season with extra salt & pepper if needed, and serve with the sliced chicken on top and extra parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Some brands of pesto have more lemon juice than others, so I recommend tasting and adjusting the lemon juice as needed.
- I use sun-dried tomatoes that are packed in oil and drain the oil before adding them to the sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 640kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 458mg | Potassium: 921mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2556IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 2mg