Creamy Chicken and Pesto Pasta
with asparagus / peas
Ingredients
- Pasta, any fun shape - 8 oz
- Bacon - 4 strips, chopped
- Asparagus - 1 bunch, trimmed and cut into 1” / 2.5 cm lengths
- Chicken breasts, boneless and skinless - 1 lb, sliced into thin strips
- Peas, frozen - 1 1/2 cups
- Butter - 1 Tbsp
- Flour - 1 Tbsp
- Stock, any type - 3/4 cup
- Heavy cream - 1/4 cup
- Pesto, store-bought or homemade - 1/3 cup
Nutrition Facts
Prep
- Pasta - Cook pasta according to package directions. If making ahead, toss it with some oil to help prevent sticking. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
- Bacon / Asparagus - Prep as directed. Store separately. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
- Chicken - Slice chicken into thin strips. Tenderize with a fork and season with some salt and pepper. (Can be done 1 day ahead)
- Peas - Defrost in the microwave.
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Make
- Heat a Dutch oven or large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon and fry, stirring occasionally, until bacon is crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Drain all but 1 Tbsp / 15 mL of bacon grease out of the pan. Return pan to medium heat.
- To heated pan add chicken and saute until just cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer chicken to plate with the bacon.
- To heated pan, add butter and asparagus. Saute for 2 minutes to start asparagus cooking.
- Pour flour over asparagus and stir until no dry spots remain. Pour stock into pan while whisking. Bring stock to a simmer and simmer until stock reduces and thickens slightly, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add heavy cream and simmer for 1 minute more.
- Add pasta to the pan and stir everything to combine.
- Remove pasta from heat and stir in pesto, peas, chicken, and crispy bacon.
- Serve pasta with some black pepper on top. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Reviews
Ratings
Most Helpful
It was delish! I omitted the beans for less calories and less bloating I used asparagus and potatoes with butter and Italian herbs and veggie stock. I combined a bit of homemade. pesto with store bought pesto. A fresh garden salad was the side dish of our choice.
1 Helpful43 reviews
I really liked this one, glad I made it. Kids ate it deconstructed. Left the chicken and bacon on the side for the meat eaters to mix in themselves. This would be a quick easy week night dinner
0 HelpfulThe whole family loved it! Instead of asparagus, I used broccoli and threw it in with the pasta for the last 2 minutes it was boiling.
0 HelpfulTasty and easy. I like the other ideas to use frozen veggies to make it come together quicker.
0 HelpfulLove how easy it is and that it's hearty but still full of veggies. Definitely double the bacon.
0 HelpfulFrozen vegetables and Costco pesto make this dish come together fast and easy on a busy weeknight!
0 HelpfulIt was delish! I omitted the beans for less calories and less bloating I used asparagus and potatoes with butter and Italian herbs and veggie stock. I combined a bit of homemade. pesto with store bought pesto. A fresh garden salad was the side dish of our choice.
1 Helpful