Quick and easy… perfect!
Sydney has been blessed with amazing weather despite the onset of winter. We have had cool nights but the days have been sunny and warm. Our plants in the backyard have also loved the weather we’ve been having. Our basil in particular has taken off and grown crazily. We have more basil than we know what to do with! I did make some basil pesto with it. While it’s great to have this in the fridge, it’s good to have a couple recipes that use up the basil pesto you make. Here is a super quick and easy family meal for when you’re short on time – Chicken with Basil Pesto Pasta.
DID YOU KNOW…
that basil contains antioxidants and other health properties that may help in lowering both diabetes and cholesterol. It also is high in magnesium. (Source: WebMD)
My nights are full of running around playing chauffeur to the kids as I take them to their various extracurricular activities. They are involved in quite a bit and it takes a carefully executed plan to ensure they get to each one on time. It was a recent evening that we got caught up talking to a couple of parents and time just seemed to disappear. We ended up home a lot later than we had planned. It meant I didn’t have much time to whip something up together for the family meal. Unfortunately, my husband has been studying after work which means I’m left with the dinner duties.
I have a number of recipes I can make in a pinch with a few simple ingredients I always have. I always have a punnet of baby tomatoes so with the new batch of basil pesto and some chicken, I had dinner all planned out. The pan-fried chicken with spaghetti pasta, baby tomatoes, and basil pesto all come together to make a delicious family-friendly meal.
Want another delicious recipe?
If you like this recipe, you’ll also love others available here. From pastas to risottos, cookies to desserts, and bliss balls to gluten-free options with everything in between. There is truly something here for everyone. I have developed this website to provide family-friendly recipes where I maximise both fresh produce while minimising cost.
Want another delicious recipe?
If you like this recipe, you’ll also love others available here. From pastas to risottos, cookies to desserts, and bliss balls to gluten-free options with everything in between. There is truly something here for everyone. I have developed this website to provide family-friendly recipes where I maximise both fresh produce while minimising cost.
Chicken Basil Pesto Pasta
Ingredients
- 400 g chicken breast or thigh fillets, diced or sliced
- 3 tablespoons basil pesto
- 460 g spaghetti, dried
- 250 g punnet baby tomatoes, chopped in half
- salt
Instructions
- In a large pot, add cold water and bring to boil. Add a couple tablespoons of salt into the pot, then add the dried spaghetti. Cook as per instructions on packet for approximately 8-10 minutes until al dente.
- In a large frying pan, add a couple tablespoons of oil and lightly brown the chicken pieces.
- Add the onion, squash and baby tomatoes. Sauté until lightly cooked.
- Add the basil pesto to the chicken and vegetables, stir through. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Drain pasta and add to the chicken mixture. Mix together and serve.
Notes
- Turn this into a vegetarian dish by omitting the chicken. If you do this, be mindful that it might not serve 4 people.
- Best served with garlic bread and a glass of your favourite chilled white wine!