Italian-American · main

Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta reads umami 7.3, richness 6.6 and salinity 5.2 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Italian-American main, about 32 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 7.3 · Richness 6.6 · Salinity 5.2 · Herbaceous 5.0 · Allium 3.5 · Nutty 3.1 · Sweetness 2.8 · Funk & Ferment 2.3 · Floral 1.8 · Fruity 1.8 · Sourness 1.5 · Warm Spice 1.5 · Citrus 1.4 · Earthy 1.4 · Bitterness 1.1 · Heat 0.8

What's in it (12)

Time & effort: about 32 min · effort: involved

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 146.4 kcal, 10 g protein, 7.7 g fat, 9.5 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (10 steps)

  1. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook until al dente, 11-13 minutes. Before draining, scoop out and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water; drain the pasta.
  2. While the water comes to a boil, season the chicken all over with the salt and pepper.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear, turning once, until deeply golden and cooked through to 165 F, 6-7 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.
  4. Add the garlic to the skillet and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  5. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften and just begin to blister, 3-4 minutes.
  6. Reduce the heat to medium and pour in the heavy cream. Simmer, stirring, until it thickens slightly and coats a spoon, 3-4 minutes.
  7. Stir in the pesto and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Simmer gently to marry the sauce, about 2 minutes.
  8. Return the chicken and any collected juices to the skillet along with the drained pasta. Toss to coat, adding splashes of the remaining pasta water as needed until the sauce clings to every piece, 1-2 minutes.
  9. Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan until melted and glossy.
  10. Taste and season with more salt if needed, scatter with the fresh basil, and serve right away.

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Keep reading: what umami, richness, salinity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.