Chicken pesto pasta

Imagine sitting down to a plate of perfectly cooked pasta, coated in a creamy pesto sauce, and topped with tender slices of grilled chicken. The combination of flavors and textures is simply irresistible. In this blog post, we will explore the mouthwatering recipe for chicken pesto pasta. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds and impress your family and friends with this delectable dish.

The Perfectly Grilled Chicken

To start off our chicken pesto pasta recipe, we need to prepare the star of the dish – the grilled chicken. Begin by preheating your grill to hot. While the grill is heating up, take your chicken breasts and flatten them to ensure even cooking. You can do this by placing them between sheets of cling film and gently pounding them with a rolling pin. Once flattened, place the chicken breasts on a baking tray and cook one side under the grill for approximately 5 minutes. Then, flip the chicken over and spread a teaspoon of fresh pesto onto each breast. Cook for another 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the center. The pesto adds a burst of flavor to the chicken, making it even more delicious.

 Cooking the Pasta to Perfection

While the chicken is grilling, it’s time to cook the pasta. Fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add a pinch of salt to the boiling water, which will enhance the flavor of the pasta. Then, add the dried pasta and cook it for approximately 10 minutes or according to the instructions on the package. While the pasta is cooking, take this opportunity to prepare the remaining ingredients.

 Fresh Ingredients for Extra Flavor

To elevate the flavors of our chicken pesto pasta, we will be incorporating some fresh ingredients. Start by halving cherry tomatoes, which will add a burst of sweetness to each bite. Next, trim the green beans as necessary, ensuring they are crisp and vibrant. These colorful additions will not only enhance the visual appeal of the dish but also provide a delightful crunch and freshness.

Bringing It All Together

As the pasta nears the end of its cooking time, add the green beans to the boiling water. Let them cook for approximately 4 minutes, allowing them to slightly soften while retaining their vibrant color. Once the pasta and green beans are cooked to perfection, drain them and transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Now it’s time to assemble our chicken pesto pasta masterpiece.

Creamy and Flavorful Finish

To create a creamy and flavorful sauce, add the remaining pesto, cherry tomato halves, creme fraiche, and the sliced grilled chicken to the pasta and green beans. Gently toss everything together, ensuring that each ingredient is evenly distributed. The creme fraiche adds a luxurious creaminess to the dish, perfectly complementing the vibrant flavors of the pesto and the freshness of the cherry tomatoes.

The Finishing Touch

To add a final touch of decadence and texture, sprinkle some pine nuts over the top of the chicken pesto pasta. These tiny, crunchy morsels will provide a delightful contrast to the creamy sauce and tender chicken. Now, all that’s left to do is serve up this mouthwatering dish and enjoy the explosion of flavors in every bite.

Chicken pesto pasta

Chicken pesto pasta is a classic dish that never fails to satisfy. By following these simple steps and incorporating fresh ingredients, you can create a culinary masterpiece that will impress even the most discerning palates.

Ingredient:

• 400 g Chicken breast fillets, skinless and boneless 2 x Chicken breasts
• 145 g Fresh pesto
• 350 g Dried pasta
• 200 g Green beans
• 200 g Cherry tomatoes Halved
• 2 tbsp Creme fraiche
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat the grill to hot.
2. Flatten your chicken breasts (I do this by laying them between sheets of cling film and bashing with a rolling pin). Pop them onto a baking tray and cook one side under the grill for 5 minutes, turn over and spread a teaspoon of the pesto onto each one and pop back under the grill for another 5 minutes or until cooked through.
3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling, salted water for 10 minutes or according to pack instructions.
4. Whilst the pasta is cooking halve the cherry tomatoes, and trim the green beans as necessary.
5. 4 minutes before the end of the cooking time, throw in the green beans with the boiling pasta.
6. Cut the chicken into thin slices.
7. Drain the pasta and beans, stir in the rest of the pasta, the cherry tomato halves, the creme fraiche, chicken,salt and pepper and pine nuts.
8. Enjoy!