Does adding pasta water really make a difference?

Adding a small amount of reserved pasta water to your sauce can help with achieve the right consistency. Pasta water is the secret to a superior sauce because it acts as a binder and thickener and gives it a silky smooth texture.

What is the purpose of al dente pasta?

If you’re wondering what al dente means , it’s a technique for cooking the pasta just right. It means that the cooked pasta should be soft yet firm and chewy. It's common for people to cook pasta for a few minutes less than the package says, and sometimes the package will give you a range for cooking time; in that case, you should cook it for a lesser amount.

Can you use pesto straight from the jar?

Yes, you can, and that’s what we’re doing in our pasta recipe. Store-bought jarred pesto is made with preservatives and can be eaten/used in dishes immediately, and leftovers can be stored in the fridge afterward.

Why is my pesto pasta so dry?

One of the key ingredients in pesto pasta sauce is reserved pasta water. It will help keep the noodles from soaking up the noodles and drying out the pasta.

Can you store pesto pasta?

You can store pesto pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Easy and Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe

Description

This chicken pesto pasta recipe is packed with pesto and incredibly delicious any night of the week!

Ingredients

Rigatoni (or your preferred pasta noodle): 15 oz/454 grams
Olive Oil: 3 tablespoons
Yellow Onion, diced: 1
Chicken Breast, sliced into thin bite-size pieces: 1
Garlic Powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Red Chili Flakes (Optional): 1 teaspoon
Salt: 1 teaspoon
Pepper: 1/4 teaspoon
Reserved Pasta Water: 1/3 cup
Pesto: 1 cup
Heavy Cream: 1/4 cup
Parmesan Cheese: Optional for garnishing

Instructions

Pasta Noodles: Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package. Reserve ⅓ cup of pasta water before draining the noodles.
Pasta Sauce: In a large frying pan, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and onions and cook on medium heat until soft, about 10 minutes. Slightly increase the heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the chicken to the center of the pan. Sprinkle the chicken with garlic powder, optional chili flakes, salt, and pepper, and cook until the chicken is no longer pink. Add the reserved pasta water, pesto, and cream. Once it starts to boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 seconds.
Serve: Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the cooked pasta. Serve immediately, and garnish with parmesan cheese.

Notes

Cook/boil the pasta to al dente to ensure that it doesn’t overcook once you add it to the saucepan.

Instead of putting the cooked, drained pasta back in the pot you cooked it in, keep it in the colander until you can mix it in with the sauce. If you put it back in the pot, it may stick to the pot and start overcooking because the pot is still hot.

This recipe uses store-bought pesto to make it a quick and easy pasta dish, but you can also make basil pesto yourself if you’d like.

The pasta will have the best texture if you add the reserved pasta water to the sauce and the pasta dish is served right away. The pasta water will help keep the sauce from getting absorbed by the noodles.

Nutrition facts are for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for any errors. We have tested the recipe for accuracy, but your results may vary. Please note that this is not medical or nutrition advice. Seek advice from a licensed professional if you need advice. We are not liable for any damages caused by your use of this content.

Scroll up to the full blog post for recipe FAQ’s and storage information.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: lunch, dinner, pasta
Method: stove top
Cuisine: italian