Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta

Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta recipe videos

Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta is a rich, comforting Italian-inspired dish that combines tender chicken, al dente pasta, and a vibrant basil pesto sauce blended with cream. The typical ingredients include pasta (like fusilli or penne), cooked chicken breast, store-bought or homemade basil pesto, heavy cream or cream cheese, and often Parmesan cheese for extra depth. While its roots are in Italian flavors, this specific creamy variation is a popular modern fusion, often found in home kitchens and casual restaurants worldwide.

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🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This dish is typically high in both fat and carbohydrates, with a good amount of protein from the chicken. It provides key nutrients like calcium (from cheese), healthy fats (from olive oil in the pesto), and vitamins from basil, but is calorie-dense, with a rough ballpark of 600-900 calories per generous serving depending on portion size and creaminess.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	580 kcal
Protein	32 g
Carbs	48 g
Fat	28 g
Fiber	3 g
Sugar	4 g
Sodium	850 mg
Calcium	180 mg
Iron	3.2 mg
Potassium	520 mg
Vitamin A	450 mcg RAE
Vitamin C	12 mg
Vitamin B12	1.8 mcg
Phosphorus	380 mg
Selenium	28 mcg

Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, it represents a delicious adaptation where classic Italian pesto (a bright, oil-based sauce from Genoa) meets a richer, creamier American or international palate. Nutritionally, it's interesting because the basil in pesto offers antioxidants and vitamin K, while the combination of protein and fat helps make it very satiating.