This Chicken and Pasta with Cilantro Pesto is an easy, flavorful dinner made with tender chicken, mushrooms, and pasta tossed in a fresh homemade cilantro pesto. It’s a simple weeknight meal packed with fresh, savory flavor.
I wasn’t even sure if I would be able to post a recipe today. I have several done, and photos on my computer, but then when I sat down last night, I realized that I have no idea where my recipe notebooks are! Aaahhh, the joys of moving. Luckily, I was able to find the recipe for this one – and hopefully I’ll get a little bit organized in the next couple days!!
I’ll keep it short today since it is a holiday, and I’m sure that many of you have fun-filled days ahead of you. And I’m sure you have great plans for dinner tonight. But if you are looking for something for later this week, I’ve got a recipe for you. And if you sub in whole wheat pasta, it’s actually not that bad for you, either! (Great for detoxing from the cookouts tonight!)
I hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday. And celebrate summer. I’m not ready to let go yet. Give me a couple more weeks, but today is sure a great day to celebrate it!!
More Pasta Dinners:
Sausage Carbonara Pasta
Brie Pasta with Bacon
Cajun Sausage Pasta
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Chicken and Pasta with Cilantro Pesto
Ingredients
Pesto
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup packed fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
Pasta
- 12 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 oz fresh mushrooms sliced
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 8 oz cooked pasta
Instructions
- Make the pesto: Put all of the pesto ingredients into a food processor and process until smooth. If needed, add more chicken broth – but not too much. You want it to be a paste.
- Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken, mushrooms and onion and cook until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink.
- Add the pasta to the chicken mixture, then stir in the pesto.
Dawn says
Great recipe! I did use mini bow tie pasta but it was delicious! Love the cilantro pesto! Thanks for sharing!
Julia says
What a beautiful photo and a great recipe! I saw your photo on TasteSpotting.com .
Cherine says
I bet this tastes so good!
Cookin' Canuck says
I love the sound of this cilantro pesto, Deb. I’d be tempted to spread it on wrap sandwiches, dollop some on scrambled eggs…okay, and eat it with a spoon.
teresa says
you had me at cilantro pesto. what great flavors!
Anna @ hiddenponies says
What a beautiful colour this dish is! Pasta always looks good to me 🙂