Name: Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Skillet Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 16 oz. penne pasta, cooked al dente; 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces; 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt, or to taste; 1/8 teaspoon pepper, or to taste; 3 tablespoons butter, divided; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 cup chicken broth; 2 cups heavy cream; 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated; 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded; 7 oz. basil pesto

If you’re craving a comforting, flavor-packed one-pan meal, this Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Skillet Recipe is exactly what you need. Juicy chicken and tender pasta swim in a luscious pesto cream sauce that melts in your mouth—trust me, you’ll want to make this your weeknight go-to!

Creamy Pesto Chicken - A close-up view of a stainless steel pan filled with creamy penne pasta mixed with browned pieces of seasoned chicken. The pasta is coated in a pale yellow sauce with visible black pepper and herbs throughout. Small bright green basil leaves are scattered on top, along with finely grated white cheese sprinkled over the dish. A wooden spoon rests inside the pan, partially lifting some pasta, showing the thick creamy texture. The pan is placed on a white marbled surface with a block of cheese and some green leaves blurred in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Skillet Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Skillet Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Skillet Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I absolutely adore how this Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Skillet Recipe brings everything together in one pan — it’s so easy, yet the flavors feel indulgent and fresh all at once. Every time I make it, my family asks for seconds (and sometimes thirds!).

One-skillet convenience: Minimal cleanup means more time enjoying the meal and less time scrubbing pans.
Perfectly balanced flavors: The creamy sauce, aromatic pesto, and tender chicken create a dish that’s rich without being overwhelming.
Customizable and flexible: You can add veggies, spice, or change up the cheese to suit your taste or pantry.
Comfort food with a fresh twist: It satisfies your soul while sneaking in some basil’s herbal brightness.

Creamy Pesto Chicken - The image shows a close-up of creamy pasta with three visible layers. The base layer is penne pasta cooked to a soft yellow color and coated evenly with a smooth, light beige sauce mixed with small black pepper specks. On the second layer, there are pieces of cooked chicken with a golden-brown crust, adding texture and color contrast. The top layer has small green basil leaves scattered across the pasta along with fine shavings of white cheese sprinkled throughout. A wooden spoon lifts some pasta from a white bowl, and the whole scene is set on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Let’s chat about the star players in this creamy pasta dinner. Each ingredient pulls its weight, making it taste like you spent hours in the kitchen when really, you whipped it up in about 30 minutes. When you shop, look for fresh basil pesto and quality cheeses for the best results.

Creamy Pesto Chicken - Flat lay of fresh basil leaves with deep green color and delicate texture, bite-sized raw chicken breast pieces showing soft pink flesh, plump garlic cloves with smooth white skin, golden yellow butter cubes with creamy texture, a wedge of Parmesan cheese boasting a pale ivory hue and granular surface, bright green basil pesto with a slightly oily sheen, uncooked penne pasta in pale beige with smooth ridges, and a scattering of dried Italian seasoning herbs in mixed green and brown tones, all beautifully arranged in a natural flow with overlapping edges and small gaps between each ingredient, placed on white marbled surface, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Penne pasta: Holds the sauce beautifully thanks to its ridged shape and sturdy texture.
Chicken breasts: They cook quickly and provide tender bites that soak up the sauce.
Butter & olive oil: Gives the chicken a golden sear and keeps flavors rich.
Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt & pepper: The perfect blend to season the chicken evenly and enhance depth.
Garlic: Adds a fragrant foundation to the sauce – freshly minced is best.
Chicken broth: Lightens up the sauce and adds savory notes without heaviness.
Heavy cream: Gives that luscious, silky texture your taste buds adore.
Parmesan cheese: Sharp and nutty, it melts perfectly to thicken the sauce.
Mozzarella cheese: Offers gooey, melty texture for extra indulgence.
Basil pesto: The star flavor! Added last to retain its fresh, vibrant taste.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about this Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Skillet Recipe is how easy it is to put your own stamp on it. Whether you want to bulk it up with veggies or swap cheeses, it’s forgiving and flexible—you can totally make it your own masterpiece.

Veggie-packed variation: I often toss in fresh baby spinach or cherry tomatoes when I want a boost of color and freshness, especially when I want to sneak in some greens without extra fuss.
Spicy twist: A pinch of crushed red pepper flakes kicked this up a notch the last time I was feeling adventurous—it added just the right amount of heat without stealing the show.
Cheesy upgrade: Adding a couple tablespoons of cream cheese takes the sauce from creamy to downright decadently rich if you’re in the mood for that.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Skillet Recipe

Step 1: Cook the Pasta Perfectly

First things first, get a large pot of salted water boiling. Cook your penne pasta according to the package instructions, aiming for al dente—firm but not hard. I find that tossing a bit of olive oil in the water helps prevent sticking, but stirring occasionally does the trick too. Drain it well and set aside; you’ll be adding it back into the sauce soon.

Step 2: Season and Sear the Chicken

While the pasta cooks, cube your chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and pepper. I like to toss it all in a bowl and stir to coat evenly—makes the chicken pop with flavor. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter with olive oil in your skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the chicken and sear until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Don’t overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary. Once done, transfer to a plate and keep the flavorful juices—it all adds to the sauce!

Step 3: Build the Creamy Pesto Sauce

Lower the heat to medium and melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the same skillet. Toss in the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant—don’t let it burn, or it’ll get bitter. Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, using a wooden spoon to scrape up all those tasty browned bits stuck to the bottom of your pan. Those bits are pure flavor gold! Bring the sauce just to a gentle boil.

Step 4: Melt the Cheeses & Simmer

Turn the heat down to medium-low and add your Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses in batches, stirring continuously so they melt smoothly. This creates that rich, velvety sauce you’re dreaming of. Taste the sauce and adjust with salt or pepper as needed. Let it simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until it thickens nicely—about 8 minutes.

Step 5: Toss it All Together

Finally, add your cooked pasta, chicken with the plate juices, and the basil pesto to the skillet. Stir it all gently until your pasta is evenly coated in that gorgeous creamy pesto sauce. The pesto goes in last and is stirred in just before serving to keep its fresh, herby flavor intact.

Step 6: Serve Warm & Enjoy!

Scoop it onto plates, maybe sprinkle with extra Parmesan or fresh basil leaves if you’re feeling fancy, and dive in. It’s seriously comfort food magic that’s simple enough to make midweek but delicious enough for company.

Top Tip

After making this Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Skillet Recipe many times, I discovered a few tricks that take it from great to restaurant-quality every single time.

Don't boil the pesto: Adding pesto at the end preserves its vibrant color and fresh basil flavor—it can turn bitter if overheated.
Pat chicken dry: Before seasoning, drying the chicken helps it sear better and prevents steaming in the pan.
Simmer sauce gently: Keep the heat moderate; too hot and the cream can curdle or the cheese might get grainy.
Taste as you go: This recipe responds well to seasoning adjustments—don't be shy about tweaking salt and pepper along the way.

How to Serve Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Skillet Recipe

Creamy Pesto Chicken - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love finishing this dish with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan and a few torn fresh basil leaves—it adds a pop of color and extra herbaceous brightness. Sometimes, I’ll add a little squeeze of lemon juice for a fresh zing that really wakes up the creamy sauce.

Side Dishes

This skillet recipe is a meal all on its own, but if you’re looking to round it out, a crisp green salad with a tangy vinaigrette pairs beautifully. Garlic bread or a warm, crusty baguette is also fantastic for soaking up leftover sauce—you won’t want to waste a drop!

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I like serving this in mini cast iron skillets at the table—it looks rustic and inviting. Alternatively, plating the pasta in deep bowls with a garnish of microgreens or edible flowers makes it feel extra special and restaurant-worthy.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After dinner, any leftovers go straight into an airtight container and into the fridge. I find the texture holds up nicely for up to 3 days. Before storing, I give the pasta a gentle stir to redistribute the sauce—it keeps it from clumping together.

Freezing

I’ve frozen this dish a few times, but I recommend leaving out the pesto if you’re planning to freeze it. Freeze the creamy chicken pasta in portions without pesto, then add fresh pesto after thawing and reheating. The pesto flavor and color stay much fresher this way.

Reheating

When reheating, I gently warm the pasta in a skillet over low heat with a splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen the sauce. This keeps the pasta creamy and prevents it from drying out. Finally, I stir in fresh pesto right at the end for that bright basil punch.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a different type of pasta in this recipe?

Absolutely! While penne is perfect for holding the sauce, you can use fusilli, rigatoni, or even farfalle. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time as needed to keep the pasta al dente.

Why do you add pesto at the end instead of cooking it with the sauce?

Pesto contains fresh basil and oils that are sensitive to heat. Cooking pesto with the sauce can cause it to lose its vibrant green color and fresh flavor, and it can become bitter. Adding it at the end preserves its bright aroma and taste.

Can I make this recipe dairy-free or vegan?

You can try substituting the butter and cream with dairy-free alternatives like coconut cream or cashew cream, and use vegan pesto and cheeses. Keep in mind the sauce texture and flavor may differ from the original, but it’s a great option for dairy-free or vegan diets.

How long does this dish keep in the fridge?

Leftovers of this creamy pesto chicken pasta keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days. Be sure to store it in an airtight container and reheat gently to maintain the creamy texture.

Final Thoughts

This Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Skillet Recipe is one of those dishes that feels like a warm hug after a busy day. It strikes the perfect balance between comforting and fresh, and I know you’ll find yourself making it over and over again. Give it a try – I promise it’ll become a favorite in your dinner rotation, just like it is in mine!