Pesto Chicken Pasta with Zucchini & Tomatoes
Fast & Easy

Pesto Chicken Pasta

with Zucchini & Tomatoes

25 MIN
2 Servings
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From the Test Kitchen

This verdant pasta—which stars a hearty trio of chicken and sautéed tomatoes and zucchini—gets an irresistibly rich boost of flavor from mascarpone and parmesan cheese, plus herbaceous basil pesto stirred in just before serving.
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  • Nutrition
    PER SERVING
  • Calories
    840 Cals (est.)
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fresh
ingredients
Pesto Chicken Pasta with Zucchini & Tomatoes
Title
  • 10 oz Boneless Chicken Breast Pieces
  • 6 oz Lumaca Rigata Pasta
  • 1 Zucchini
  • 4 oz Grape Tomatoes
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • ¼ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • ⅓ cup Basil Pesto
  • 2 Tbsps Mascarpone Cheese
  • ¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
time-saving
tips & techniques
Prepare the ingredients
1 Prepare the ingredients

Fill a large pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Halve the zucchini lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise. Halve the tomatoes. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic.

Cook the vegetables
2 Cook the vegetables

In a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced zucchini in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the halved tomatoes and chopped garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until softened. Transfer to a bowl. Wipe out the pan.

Cook the pasta
3 Cook the pasta

Meanwhile, add the pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly and return to the pot.

Cook the chicken
4 Cook the chicken

Meanwhile, pat the chicken dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper. In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned chicken in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add as much of the red pepper flakes as you'd like, depending on how spicy you'd like the dish to be. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until the chicken is browned and cooked through. Turn off the heat.

Finish the pasta & serve your dish
5 Finish the pasta & serve your dish

To the pot of cooked pasta, add the cooked chicken, cooked vegetables, and half the reserved pasta cooking water. Season with salt and pepper. Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until thoroughly combined. Turn off the heat. Stir in the pesto and mascarpone until the pasta is coated (if necessary, gradually add the remaining cooking water to ensure the pasta is thoroughly coated). Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished pasta garnished with the parmesan. Enjoy! 

Tips from Home Chefs

Prepare the ingredients
1 Prepare the ingredients

Fill a large pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Halve the zucchini lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise. Halve the tomatoes. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic.

2 Cook the vegetables

In a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced zucchini in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the halved tomatoes and chopped garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until softened. Transfer to a bowl. Wipe out the pan.

Cook the vegetables
Cook the pasta
3 Cook the pasta

Meanwhile, add the pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly and return to the pot.

4 Cook the chicken

Meanwhile, pat the chicken dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper. In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned chicken in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add as much of the red pepper flakes as you'd like, depending on how spicy you'd like the dish to be. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until the chicken is browned and cooked through. Turn off the heat.

Cook the chicken
Finish the pasta & serve your dish
5 Finish the pasta & serve your dish

To the pot of cooked pasta, add the cooked chicken, cooked vegetables, and half the reserved pasta cooking water. Season with salt and pepper. Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until thoroughly combined. Turn off the heat. Stir in the pesto and mascarpone until the pasta is coated (if necessary, gradually add the remaining cooking water to ensure the pasta is thoroughly coated). Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished pasta garnished with the parmesan. Enjoy! 

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