Chicken Pasta Pesto
This is a go-to recipe for hosting a luncheon or making a quick dinner on a steamy summer night. Nice for picnics, as long as it's kept cool. Grill the chicken breasts for a deeper flavor and the pesto may be homemade or jarred. Homemade is super easy and the flavor of fresh basil is unbeatable! This tastes even better the next day.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. penne pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken diced (about 6 chicken breasts)
- 1 cup pesto sauce
- 12 cherry tomatoes halved
Pesto
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup pine nuts
- 2 garlic cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions and drain.
- In a large bowl, combine pasta, chicken, and pesto. Garnish with tomatoes.
Pesto
- Place oil, nuts, garlic, and salt in food processor or blender.
- Blend until nuts and garlic are finely chopped.
- Add basil and Parmesan and blend.