@createaplatewithdina: Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta | Day 18 of My Cozy Weeknight Meals Series ✨ Ingredients Chicken • 1 ½ lbs chicken breast, sliced lengthwise into 4 thin cutlets • 1 tsp garlic powder • 1 tsp paprika • 1 tsp dried basil • ½ tsp salt • ½ tsp black pepper • ½ cup all-purpose flour (for dredging) • 2 tbsp butter + 2 tbsp olive oil (for cooking) Sauce & Pasta • 1 shallot, diced • 1 tbsp butter • 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved • 5–6 garlic cloves, minced • 2 cups heavy whipping cream • 1 cup reserved pasta water • 10 oz short pasta (cavatappi or rotini), cooked 2 minutes under package time • ⅔ cup prepared basil pesto (store bought) • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan (plus more for serving) • 1 tsp garlic salt (or to taste) • 15 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced Directions 1. Boil Water: Bring a large pot of water to a boil; salt once boiling. 2. Season & Dredge: Season chicken with garlic powder, paprika, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Lightly dredge in flour; shake off excess. 3. Sear Chicken: Heat 2 tbsp butter and 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear chicken 4–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate. 4. Cook Pasta: Add pasta to boiling water and cook 2 minutes less than package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain. 5. Build Aromatics: In the same skillet you cooked the chicken in, melt 1 tbsp butter. Add diced shallot; sauté 1–2 minutes. Stir in cherry tomatoes; cook ~3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic; cook 30 seconds. 6. Cream Base: Pour in heavy cream and 1 cup reserved pasta water. Simmer 4-5 minutes to slightly thicken. 7. Finish Sauce: Stir in pesto, ½ cup Parmesan, and garlic salt; cook about 1 minute until smooth. 8. Combine: Add the undercooked pasta; simmer 2–3 minutes until al dente and well coated. Nestle chicken on top to warm through. 9. Serve: Remove from heat; garnish with extra Parmesan and fresh basil. Enjoy! #pestopasta #pestochickenpasta #pastarecipe #weeknightmeals #easydinners

Create A Plate with Dina

Open In TikTok:

Region: US

Monday 03 November 2025 22:09:33 GMT