About the Recipe
Creamy pistachio pesto tossed with pasta and tender chicken, finished with grated Parmesan for a rich, herb forward dish that feels comforting yet refined.
Ingredients
Pasta and Chicken
12 oz spaghetti or linguine
1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Creamy Pesto Sauce
½ cup basil pesto (premade is fine or follow recipe)
½ cup heavy cream
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
Optional pinch red pepper flakes
Ingredients
1 cup shelled unsalted pistachios
1½ cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1 clove garlic
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup olive oil, plus more as needed
Zest of ½ lemon
Kosher salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Blend the Base Add pistachios, basil, garlic, Parmesan, and lemon zest to a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped.
Add Olive Oil With the processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until smooth but still slightly textured.
SeasonSeason with salt and black pepper to taste. Adjust consistency with additional olive oil if needed.
FinishTaste and adjust seasoning. Use immediately or store refrigerated.
Finish
Additional grated Parmesan for serving
For added flavor top with crispy pancetta, sundried tomatoes, or crispy bacon
Preparation
Cook the Pasta Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add Salt to water wait 2 minutes then add pasta. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
Cook the Chicken Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add to the pan and cook until lightly browned and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
Build the Sauce In the same skillet, add garlic and cook briefly until fragrant. Stir in pesto and heavy cream, then simmer gently for 2–3 minutes.
Combine Return chicken to the skillet. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time if needed to loosen the sauce.
Finish Stir in Parmesan and a pinch of red pepper flakes if using. Adjust seasoning to taste.
Serve Plate immediately and finish with additional grated Parmesan.