Description
Indulge in a flavorful and nutritious meal with this Chicken & Vegetable Penne with Parsley-Walnut Pesto recipe. Tender penne pasta, succulent chicken, and vibrant vegetables are tossed in a creamy homemade pesto for a satisfying dish that’s perfect for any day of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 1 zucchini (sliced)
- 1 red bell pepper (sliced)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Lemon wedges for serving
For the Parsley-Walnut Pesto:
- 1 cup fresh parsley leaves (packed)
- 1/3 cup walnuts
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Penne: Cook penne according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make the Parsley-Walnut Pesto: In a food processor, combine parsley, walnuts, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stream in olive oil until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Sauté Chicken: Season chicken and sauté in olive oil until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
- Sauté Vegetables: In the same skillet, sauté zucchini, red bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes until tender-crisp.
- Combine Ingredients: Return chicken to the skillet, add penne, and toss together. Stir in the parsley-walnut pesto.
- Serve: Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve warm with lemon wedges.
Notes
- You can substitute parsley with basil or arugula for a different pesto flavor.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and add more vegetables like mushrooms or spinach.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
