Best 13 Chicken Penne Pesto Recipes

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Chicken penne pesto is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great weeknight meal because it is quick and easy to make. The combination of chicken, penne pasta, pesto sauce, and vegetables creates a hearty and flavorful dish that is sure to please everyone. This article will provide you with a step-by-step guide to making chicken penne pesto, including tips for choosing the best ingredients and variations on the classic recipe.

Here are our top 13 tried and tested recipes!

PENNE WITH CHICKEN AND PESTO



Penne with Chicken and Pesto image

I sometimes substitute chicken broth for half the heavy cream called for in the recipe to reduce calories. I also use additional Parmesan.

Provided by MARYSTEVE

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into thin strips
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
1 ¼ cups heavy cream
¼ cup pesto
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
  • Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute chicken and garlic until chicken is almost cooked. Reduce heat and stir in salt, pepper, cream, pesto and Parmesan cheese. Cook until chicken is no longer pink inside. Stir in cooked pasta.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 497.1 calories, Carbohydrate 42.6 g, Cholesterol 96.9 mg, Fat 26.1 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 24 g, SaturatedFat 12.6 g, Sodium 164.2 mg, Sugar 1.9 g

PESTO CHICKEN PENNE CASSEROLE



Pesto Chicken Penne Casserole image

Creamy, flavorful and so easy to fix. This meal-in-one will wow family and friends. Makes a lot, so freeze some or halve the recipe.

Provided by Lindalou

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Chicken

Time 1h15m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 11

½ cup seasoned bread crumbs
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (16 ounce) box penne pasta
6 cups cubed cooked chicken
4 cups shredded Italian cheese blend
3 cups fresh baby spinach
1 (15 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (15 ounce) jar Alfredo sauce
1 (15 ounce) jar pesto sauce
1 ½ cups milk

Steps:

  • Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil in a small bowl until evenly moistened; set aside.
  • Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the penne, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
  • Meanwhile, combine the chicken in a bowl with the Italian cheese blend, spinach, tomatoes, alfredo sauce, pesto sauce, and milk. Stir in the pasta once done, and scoop into the prepared baking dish. Top with the bread crumb mixture.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly and golden brown on top, 40 to 45 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 760.2 calories, Carbohydrate 40.7 g, Cholesterol 114.1 mg, Fat 47.2 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 45.4 g, SaturatedFat 18.2 g, Sodium 1209.9 mg, Sugar 4.2 g

PESTO-CHICKEN PENNE CASSEROLES



Pesto-Chicken Penne Casseroles image

Creamy, flavorful and so easy to fix, this meal-in-one will wow family and friends. Get ready for recipe requests for this easy chicken casserole! -Laura Kayser, Ankeny, Iowa

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h

Yield 2 casseroles (6 servings each).

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 package (16 ounces) penne pasta
6 cups cubed cooked chicken
4 cups shredded Italian cheese blend
3 cups fresh baby spinach
1 can (15 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1 jar (15 ounces) Alfredo sauce
1-1/2 cups 2% milk
1 jar (8.1 ounces) prepared pesto
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the chicken, cheese blend, spinach, tomatoes, Alfredo sauce, milk and pesto. Drain pasta and add to chicken mixture; toss to coat., Transfer to 2 greased 8-in. square baking dishes. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and oil; sprinkle over casseroles., Cover and freeze 1 casserole for up to 3 months. Cover and bake the remaining casserole at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until bubbly., To use frozen casserole: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until bubbly.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 612 calories, Fat 30g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 111mg cholesterol, Sodium 829mg sodium, Carbohydrate 41g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 42g protein.

PENNE WITH CHICKEN, ARTICHOKES, AND PESTO CREAM



Penne With Chicken, Artichokes, and Pesto Cream image

Make and share this Penne With Chicken, Artichokes, and Pesto Cream recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Brookelynne26

Categories     Chicken

Time 25m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

12 ounces penne pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
12 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces
14 ounces artichoke hearts, drained and halved
14 ounces diced tomatoes, drained
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup pesto sauce
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
salt and pepper, to taste

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3-5 minutes, until golden all over. Add artichokes, tomatoes, cream, and pesto. Bring to a simmer and stir frequently for 3 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
  • Fold in the cooked pasta and parmesan cheese. Cook 1 minute longer to heat through. Add more cream if neneed to thin out sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 736.3, Fat 30.3, SaturatedFat 15.8, Cholesterol 136.3, Sodium 719.9, Carbohydrate 87, Fiber 16.1, Sugar 4.8, Protein 33.9

CHICKEN PESTO PENNE



Chicken Pesto Penne image

"Served with a side dish of vegetables, this makes a filling meal for two," writes Bill Hilbrich of Saint Cloud, Minnesota. "Sometimes I use cooked shrimp instead of chicken."

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 25m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 cup uncooked penne pasta
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons prepared pesto
1 cup cubed cooked chicken

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, sour cream and pesto. Drain pasta. Add pasta and chicken to Parmesan mixture; toss to coat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 392 calories, Fat 17g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 81mg cholesterol, Sodium 282mg sodium, Carbohydrate 28g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 30g protein.

CHICKEN PESTO PENNE



Chicken Pesto Penne image

We had a wonderful pasta dish at a local restaurant and I have spent time recreating and (blush blush) I think improving on it. This is not low fat, but it is nice for a once in a while treat. If you want to indulge even more, perhaps for company, (and make it taste even better) use full fat cream instead of the half and half! I use bought, jarred pesto but homemade would be even better. I hope you enjoy it!

Provided by Paja9203

Categories     Penne

Time 30m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 lb penne rigate (the kind with ridges, 4 cups dry)
1 lb boneless chicken breast, sliced 1/4 inch thick and in pieces
1 cup onion, minced
1 cup mushroom
2 garlic cloves
2 cups half-and-half cream
2/3 cup pesto sauce
1 cup sun-dried tomato, chopped
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, fresh grated (only the real stuff, not in the green can!)
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped (optional)

Steps:

  • Season and saute the chicken breast. Remove from the pan and keep warm.
  • Meanwhile, cook the penne in salted boiling water.
  • In the same pan as the chicken breast, saute mushrooms and onion. When almost done, add garlic and saute until fragrant.
  • Add cream and pesto and bring to a boil. Put the chicken back in the pan and add the sun-dried tomatoes Simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes to thicken.
  • Add most of the parmesan (reserving a little for the top).
  • Drain the penne saving some of the water.
  • Add the penne to the sauce and stir. Add reserved water if needed to thin the sauce.
  • Serve penne topped with the saved parmesan and basil if using.
  • Serve.

PENNE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO AND CHICKEN



Penne With Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Chicken image

I saw this recipe being made on "Everyday Italian" on the food network. The original recipe did not call for chicken, but I think it needed a little meat to make it extra yummy. Enjoy!

Provided by Juju Bee

Categories     Penne

Time 30m

Yield 5 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

12 ounces penne pasta
1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken
1 (8 1/2 ounce) jar sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
2 garlic cloves
salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 cup packed fresh basil leaf
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite (al dente), stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
  • Meanwhile chop cooked chicken.
  • Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
  • Blend the sun-dried tomatoes and their oil, garlic, salt and pepper, to taste, and basil in a food processor and blend until the tomatoes are very finely chopped.
  • Transfer the tomato mixture to a large bowl and stir in the Parmesan and the chicken.
  • Add the pasta to the pesto and toss to coat, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten.
  • Season the pasta to taste, with salt and pepper and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 464.2, Fat 13.9, SaturatedFat 3.6, Cholesterol 40.3, Sodium 315.2, Carbohydrate 66.6, Fiber 10.7, Sugar 0.1, Protein 22.2

PENNE WITH CHICKEN, PESTO AND ARTICHOKES



PENNE WITH CHICKEN, PESTO AND ARTICHOKES image

Categories     Pasta     Dinner

Yield 5-6 bowls

Number Of Ingredients 10

12 oz box of penne pasta
7 oz jar of artichoke hearts
3 cloves of garlic
28 oz jar diced tomatoes
2 large chicken breasts
1/2 cup pre-made sun dried tomato pesto
1 onion
3/4 cup parmesan cheese
5 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper

Steps:

  • marinade chicken breasts in favorite marinade. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil on medium high heat in a medium skillet. Add chicken breasts, brown 5 mins per side. Place chicken on a baking sheet, cook 30 minutes at 350 degrees, or until internal temp is 165. While chicken is cooking, cook penne according to instructions on the box. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 5-8 minutes, or until onion is tender. Add whole can of tomatoes, including the juice, and the artichoke hearts. Simmer for 8 minutes, until the sauce thickens then add the sun dried tomato pesto and cook for 1-2 minutes longer. Add in freshly cooked pasta add pinch of salt and pepper. Remove chicken from oven, slice into one inch cubes and add to pasta then add 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, stir and serve. Use extra 1/4 cup cheese to sprinkle on top when serving.

PENNE WITH SUNDRIED TOMATOES, PESTO AND GRILLED CHICKEN



PENNE WITH SUNDRIED TOMATOES, PESTO AND GRILLED CHICKEN image

Categories     Pasta     Quick & Easy

Yield 6 people

Number Of Ingredients 8

500 gr. Whole wheat penne rigate
1/2 cup prepared pesto
8-10 pieces sundried tomatoes, julienned
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3 grilled chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
4 tbsp. olive oil
1 cup pasta water
Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Cook penne in a large pot of salted water. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, saute garlic and sundried tomatoes for about a minute in olive oil Add grilled chicken pieces. Saute for another minute or two until flavours are blended and chicken is heated through. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water. Pour pasta into saucepan with sundried tomatoes and chicken. Add the pesto and pasta water and toss to coat the pasta. Sprinkle with a generous amount of parmesan and serve immediately.

GARLIC PESTO CHICKEN WITH TOMATO CREAM PENNE RECIPE - (4.2/5)



Garlic Pesto Chicken with Tomato Cream Penne Recipe - (4.2/5) image

Provided by á-24350

Number Of Ingredients 11

SAUCE:
1/2 bottle of Lawry's herb and garlic marinade
2 large spoonfuls pesto
2 boneless chicken breasts
8 ounces your choice of pasta (I used whole wheat penne)
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic
2 spoonfuls of pesto
1/2 cup of chicken broth
8 ounces tomato sauce
1 cup of half-and-half

Steps:

  • Cut chicken into one inch strips. Using same knife make slits into chicken. Pour Lawry's marinade and pesto over chicken. Marinate overnight. Boil water and start on noodles. Pour entire batch of chicken, marinade and all, into skillet and cook chicken fully. The marinade will evaporate/cook down. Heat olive oil, cook garlic. Add pesto. Simmer in chicken broth until half has cooked down. Add tomato sauce, then add milk. Simmer for 5 minutes. Toss pasta in. Add flour if it needs to be thickened. Place chicken on top.

PESTO CHICKEN PENNE



Pesto Chicken Penne image

A convenient pesto sauce mix provides the pleasant basil flavor in this simple chicken and pasta combination from Beth Martin Sine of Faulkner, Maryland. This entree requires little effort, yet seems elegant.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 20m

Yield 4-6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 6

8 ounces penne or any medium pasta
1 envelope pesto sauce mix
3/4 cup 2% milk
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey
Shredded Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, whisk the pesto mix, milk and oil. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. , Add chicken; heat through. Drain pasta. Add to the sauce and toss to coat. Sprinkle with cheese.

Nutrition Facts :

CHICKEN PENNE PESTO



Chicken Penne Pesto image

My love for pasta and chicken led to this experimental meal one afternoon. It turned out wonderful.

Provided by Jennifer Bass

Categories     Pasta

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 c uncooked, penne pasta
2 large onions, sliced
8-10 large baby portebello mushrooms, sliced
3 clove garlic, minced
3 large boneless chicken breasts
1/2 c shredded mozzarella cheese
1/3 c milk
3/4 c basil pesto
4 Tbsp butter, divided
italian seasoning, to taste
salt & pepper, to taste
garlic salt, to taste

Steps:

  • 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Season chicken with salt & pepper and place on a foil lined baking sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake for about 20 minutes or until juices run clear.
  • 2. While chicken is baking, in a 5-quart Dutch oven, make Penne pasta per package directions. Drain, cover, set aside to keep warm.
  • 3. Add 3 tablespoons of butter to a large skillet and melt. Add onions, season with salt & pepper; cook for about 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until translucent. Add mushrooms and more salt & pepper. Add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning and gently stir until mushrooms have cooked down.
  • 4. Once chicken has cooled to touch, carefully cut into cubes. Add the rest of the butter, milk, and mozzarella cheese to the pasta and stir. Add the chicken and onion mixture to the pasta and return the Dutch oven over the heat. Add the pesto sauce and stir gently until heated through.
  • 5. Garnish with additional shredded cheese or freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

CHICKEN PESTO PENNE



CHICKEN PESTO PENNE image

Categories     Chicken     Pasta     Sauté     Quick & Easy

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 cups cooked penne
1 chicken breast
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp. prepared pesto
1 Tbsp. olive tapenade
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup cream
2 Tbsp. crumbled feta OR diced fresh mozzarella
1/2 tsp. finely crushed red pepper flakes
Salt & Pepper to taste
shredded parmigiano or romano cheese, to taste

Steps:

  • Trim, wash and pat dry the chicken breast. Cut chicken into 1/2 inch cubes. sprinkle chicken with red pepper flakes, salt & pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet, add the chicken and saute until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add the pesto, tapenade and minced garlic, saute for 1 minute. Add the cream. Saute until cream begins to bubble. Add the cooked penne , making sure to mix throughly. Turn off the heat and add the feta or mozzarella, mix once more. Serve with grated cheese sprinkled on top.

Tips:

  • Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your dish.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment. There are many different ways to make chicken penne pesto, so feel free to adjust the recipe to suit your own taste.
  • If you're short on time, you can use store-bought pesto sauce. Just be sure to choose a good quality brand.
  • Garnish your dish with fresh basil or parsley for a pop of color and flavor.

Conclusion:

Chicken penne pesto is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal or for a special occasion dinner. With its creamy pesto sauce, tender chicken, and al dente penne pasta, this dish is sure to please everyone at the table.

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