20-Minute Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta (One Pan, Dreamy)

Some pasta dishes just hit different. This is one of them.

Tender chicken in a creamy basil pesto sauce with perfectly cooked pasta — all in one pan in 20 minutes. It’s the kind of dinner that tastes like you spent an hour in the kitchen but actually took less time than delivery.

Why This Is the Perfect 20-Minute Weeknight Dinner

One pan, minimal cleanup. The chicken sears, the sauce builds, and the pasta cooks — all in one skillet. No boiling pasta separately, no multiple pots.

Pesto makes everything better. The combination of basil pesto and cream creates a sauce that’s herby, rich, and absolutely addictive. It coats every piece of pasta perfectly.

20 minutes, start to finish. Unlike traditional pesto pasta that requires making the sauce separately, this version builds the sauce right in the pan.

Crowd-pleaser. Pasta + chicken + creamy sauce = universal appeal. Even the pickiest eaters devour this.

Ingredients You Need

For the Chicken

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

For the Sauce

• 8 oz penne pasta
• 2 cups chicken broth
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ⅓ cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
• ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

For Serving

• Fresh basil leaves
• Extra parmesan cheese
• Toasted pine nuts (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sear the chicken. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Add to the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.

Step 2: Cook the pasta. In the same skillet, add pasta and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.

Step 3: Build the sauce. Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream, pesto, and garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta.

Step 4: Bring it together. Return chicken to the skillet. Toss everything together. Stir in parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes.

Step 5: Serve. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, extra parmesan, and toasted pine nuts if desired.

Tips for the Best Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

Don’t overcook the pasta. Cook it al dente — it’ll continue cooking in the sauce. Overcooked pasta gets mushy.

Use good pesto. The pesto is the star of this dish. Use a quality store-bought pesto or homemade for the best flavor.

Add the pesto off heat. High heat can make pesto turn bitter. Add it after reducing the heat to low.

Make it a meal. Serve with a simple side salad and crusty bread for a complete dinner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different pasta shape? Yes! Farfalle, fusilli, or rigatoni all work great. Penne is just the most common.

How do I make this dairy-free? Use dairy-free cream and pesto, and substitute nutritional yeast for the parmesan. The flavor will be slightly different but still delicious.

Can I use rotisserie chicken? Absolutely! This is the perfect recipe for leftover rotisserie chicken. Just skip the searing step and add the cooked chicken at the end.

What if I don’t have pesto? Make a quick substitute by blending fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, parmesan, and pine nuts. Or use sun-dried tomato pesto for a different flavor.

Recipe Summary

20-Minute Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta (One Pan, Dreamy) Prep: 5 min | Cook: 15 min | Total: 20 min | Serves: 4 One pan | Family-friendly | Weeknight dinner | Crowd-pleaser

Save this 20-minute creamy pesto chicken pasta for your next busy weeknight when you need something dreamy and herby. One pan, 20 minutes, absolutely delicious.

For More Recipes Like This

If you loved this pesto chicken pasta, you’ll also love these easy one-pan dinners:

• 20-Minute Creamy Garlic Tuscan Shrimp — Juicy shrimp in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce. Restaurant-quality in 20 minutes.
• 15-Minute Chicken Fajita Skillet — Sizzling chicken with peppers and onions in a smoky fajita seasoning.