Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Recipe with Spinach!
Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Recipe with Spinach! Easy 30 Minute Homemade Pesto Pasta Dinner Recipe with Spinach and Chicken!
This Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Recipe with Spinach is one of our favorite easy dinner recipes!
It’s so easy to make and I use cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken to make it even easier!
Plus, here are even more Easy Dinner Recipes!
This is by far one of my favorite dinner recipes. I get all of the ingredients at Aldi so it’s budget friendly too.
I normally use what I need out of the pesto jar and then freeze the rest for next time!
The pesto jar from Aldi will make this recipe 3 times. I portion out 3 Tablespoon portions and freeze it in Food Saver bags:)
I also like to use the Organic Brown Rice and Quinoa Penne Pasta from Aldi. You can use any pasta you want, this is just my favorite!
How to make creamy pesto chicken pasta?
First, start by heating up your non-stick pan or cast iron to medium heat and get a pot of water on the stove so it can heat to a boil for the pasta (cook pasta according to package).
Add the butter and the chicken to the pan and heat the chicken all the way though (I like to use cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken that is normally frozen and needs some time to get hot – you could also cook raw chicken here).
Once chicken is heated, add half of the spinach and stir occasionally until wilted. Add remaining spinach and stir until wilted.
To finish the sauce, add heavy cream, pesto, and salt and bring sauce to a simmer. Sauce will thicken over time, so once it thickens some, turn heat down to low.
Once your pasta is done, combine pasta with sauce and toss until pasta is well coated.
The sauce will thicken when you bring it to a simmer. Once you add the pasta, turn heat down to low.
Plate the pasta, or in the pan, garnish with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes (optional).
Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Recipe
Here’s What You Need:
Ingredients:
12 oz Cooked or Rotisserie Chicken
4 Cups Baby Spinach
3 Tablespoons Pesto
1/4 teaspoon Salt
3/4 Cup Heavy Cream
2 Tablespoons Butter
8 Ounces Cooked Pasta
Parmesan Cheese (to garnish)
Dash of Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
Directions:
Heat a non-stick or cast iron pan to medium heat. At the same time, bring a pot of water to boil for the pasta and make pasta according to package.
Add butter and cooked chicken to pan and heat through.
Once butter is melted and chicken is warm, cut chicken into pieces and add half of the spinach to the pan.
Stir spinach occasionally until it’s wilted (1-2 minutes).
Add remaining spinach and stir until wilted (another 1-2 minutes).
Once spinach is wilted, add heavy cream, salt, and pesto and bring sauce to a simmer.
Once pasta is done, combine the pasta in the sauce and toss well.
Plate pasta and garnish with Parmesan Cheese and if you want to add a little spice, red pepper flakes.
Note:
**You can used raw chicken tenders or chicken breasts for this recipe, just cook your chicken first in the butter and then proceed with the recipe.
I normally add parmesan cheese to the whole pan of pasta and then add red pepper flakes to my plate since spicy isn’t for everyone ;).
Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Recipe with Spinach!
Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Easy Dinner Recipe with Spinach! A super easy 30 minute quick dinner idea!
Ingredients
- 12 oz Cooked or Rotisserie Chicken
- 4 Cups Baby Spinach
- 3 Tablespoons Pesto
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 3/4 Cup Heavy Cream
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 8 Ounces Cooked Pasta
- Parmesan Cheese (to garnish)
- Dash of Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a non-stick or cast iron pan to medium heat. At the same time, bring a pot of water to boil for the pasta and make pasta according to package.
Add butter and cooked chicken to pan and heat through. - Once butter is melted and chicken is warm, cut chicken into pieces and add half of the spinach to the pan.
- Stir spinach occasionally until it's wilted (1-2 minutes).
- Add remaining spinach and stir until wilted (another 1-2 minutes).
- Once spinach is wilted, add heavy cream, salt, and pesto and bring sauce to a simmer.
- Once pasta is done, combine the pasta in the sauce and toss well.
- Plate pasta and garnish with Parmesan Cheese and if you want to add a little spice, red pepper flakes.
What goes well with pesto pasta?
Cherry tomatoes or fresh tomatoes go really well with pesto pasta! You can even add tomatoes to this recipe. A side salad and french bread is another great option!
I hope you enjoy this easy dinner recipe as much as we do! It’s so simple to make and always on our meal plan!
If you are looking for another easy dinner recipe, try this Homemade Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce – it’s another family favorite!
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