High-Protein Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe

High-protein chicken pesto pasta is a classic Italian weeknight dinner built for muscle gain. Pan-seared chicken breast tossed with al dente pasta and vibrant basil pesto creates a satisfying, flavor-packed meal in under 30 minutes. Each serving delivers 64g of protein and 803 calories, making it a top-tier Italian option for athletes and anyone focused on muscle-building goals.

Ingredients

• 600g boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced
• 350g penne or fusilli pasta, dry
• 150g fresh basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 0.5 cup pasta cooking water (reserved)
• 50g Parmesan cheese, grated
• 0.5 tsp sea salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper
• 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• Fresh basil leaves for garnish

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 0.5 cup of pasta water. Drain and set aside.
2. While pasta cooks, season sliced chicken with salt and pepper.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken strips in a single layer and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
5. Add cherry tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes until they begin to blister.
6. Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss with the tomatoes and garlic.
7. Add pesto and 3-4 tbsp of reserved pasta water. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated and a light sauce forms.
8. Add chicken strips back to the skillet and toss to combine. Heat for 1 minute.
9. Remove from heat, add half the grated Parmesan, and toss again.
10. Serve immediately, topped with remaining Parmesan, fresh basil leaves, and red pepper flakes if desired.

Tips & Variations

• Reserve more pasta water than you think you need; it is the secret to a creamy pesto sauce without cream.
• Use high-quality pesto, or make your own with fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan.
• Add sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, or roasted pine nuts for extra richness.
• For extra protein, add a soft-boiled egg on top of each serving.
• Leftover pasta keeps for 3 days; reheat with a splash of water in a skillet over medium heat.

Nutrition Breakdown

Calories: 803 kcal

Protein: 63.5g

Fat: 28.9g

Carbs: 71g

Fiber: 4.3g

Track It with Nutrify

Tracking High-Protein Chicken Pesto Pasta is easy with Nutrify's AI-powered food scanner. Just snap a photo of your plate and get instant calorie and macro data. Download Nutrify to start tracking smarter.