Asparagus Chicken Pasta

By Rena Awada | Updated On February 5, 2020

This Asparagus Pesto Chicken Pasta is an easy and delicious one-pot weeknight dinner recipe that the entire family will enjoy. It comes together in less than 30 minutes and made with a few simple ingredients. 

asparagus chicken pasta recipe

An easy Italian chicken pasta recipe that’s packed with juicy chicken slices and tender asparagus tossed in a pesto base sauce. Have dinner on your table in less than 30 minutes with simple ingredients you may already have in your fridge or pantry. Super easy to make, yet so delicious and filling. To make this gluten-free, you may use gluten-free pasta instead of whole grain.

How to make Chicken Asparagus Pasta

  • Cook pasta: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water.
  • Prep Chicken: While the pasta is cooking, season the chicken on both sides with half of the salt and pepper.
  • Cook Chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the chicken in a single layer and sear for 3 minutes per side, or until cooked through. You may have to cook the chicken in batches. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, and allow it to rest for 5 minutes, before slicing it into strips.

asparagus chicken pasta

  • Sautee veggies: While the chicken is cooling, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the skillet, and add the asparagus and cherry tomatoes. Sauté, stirring often, for 2-3 minutes, or until the asparagus is tender-crisp.
  • Combine pasta with veggies: Add 1 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water to the skillet, pesto, and the sliced chicken, and bring the liquid to a simmer. As soon as it starts bubbling, add the cooked pasta, and toss with tongs to coat the noodles in the sauce. Remove from the heat and serve immediately.

chicken asparagus pasta

How long is chicken pasta good for

Store leftover Asparagus chicken pasta in container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat simply microwave in a microwave-safe bowl.

How to cook chicken for pasts dish

There are several ways to cook your chicken if adding to your pasta dish. It is wise to cook the chicken first before adding into your pasta. Here are a few ways to cook the chicken first:

  • Sear/sautee: You may sear or sautee the chicken in a skillet on your stovetop. Cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side.
  • Bake: Chicken can be baked in the oven at 350-400 F for 15-20 minutes until cooked through or a food thermometer reads 1
  • 65F when inserted in the thickest part of your chicken.
  • Grilled: Have access to an outdoor grill? Try grilling the chicken for about 3 minutes on each side. Or you may also check doneness using a food thermometer.

What to serve with Chicken Pasta

This one-pot chicken pasta dish is a complete dish and doesn’t require a side dish. But, it can be served with more roasted veggies, a side of veggie soup, or a cold salad.

chicken asparagus pasta recipe

asparagus and chicken pasta recipe

What herbs go with chicken

Some people like their chicken with simply salt and pepper whereas some like adding some herbs to give it some flavor. Depending on the dish you are making, some herbs that can be used on chicken can be :

  • Rosemary
  • Thyme
  • OreganoS
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Cajun and paprika
  • Garlic powder
  • Sage
  • Tarragon
  • Cilantro

healthy chicken pasta recipe

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Check out these easy dinner recipes:

lemon garluc asparagus chicken pasta

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healthy pesto chicken pasta recipe

chicken asparagus pasta recipe

Asparagus Chicken Pasta

Sliced tender pieces of chicken tossed in with asparagus, tomatoes, and pesto.
4.95 from 18 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 625kcal
Author: Rena

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast sliced in half lengthwise
  • 1 Tsp Kosher Salt divided
  • ½ Tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper divided
  • 1 lb Asparagus ends trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 2 Cups Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
  • ¼ Cup Basil Pesto
  • 3 Garlic Cloves minced
  • 3 Tbsp Olive Oil divided
  • 12 oz Dry Whole Grain Fettuccine or linguine

Instructions

  • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water.
  • While the pasta is cooking, season the chicken on both sides with half of the salt and pepper.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the chicken in a single layer and sear for 3 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
  • You may have to cook the chicken in batches. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, and allow it to rest for 5 minutes, before slicing it into strips.
  • While the chicken is cooling, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the skillet, and add the asparagus and cherry tomatoes. Add in the garlic and sauté. Stirring often, for 2-3 minutes, or until the asparagus is tender-crisp.
  • Add 1 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water to the skillet, pesto, and the sliced chicken, and bring the liquid to a simmer.
  • As soon as it starts bubbling, add the cooked pasta, and toss with tongs to coat the noodles in the sauce. Remove from the heat and serve immediately. 

Video

Notes

Substitutes:
  • Any pasta of choice
  • If you don't like asparagus, use broccoli or zucchini
  • Any other meat like shrimp will work well.
Storage:
Place leftovers in a container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave when ready to eat. You can freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutritional facts:
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is calculated using a nutrition facts calculator. It is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 625kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 884mg | Potassium: 820mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1568IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 4mg
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healthy chicken pesto recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Wanda says

    5 stars
    Rena, you knocked it out of the ball park with this one…was getting ready to make as I had ingredients, then realized I didn’t have any tomatoes!!! Had everything else ready, so jumped in car to Fresh Market and got some wonderful organic cherry tomatoes (they’re the bomb). So since its only me, I halved this recipe (easy peasey) and used gluten free pasta (a must for hypo people). I was going to post a pic for you as it was so divine, but guess we can’t post pics on comments anymore. Anyways followed easy directions, and only different thing I did was add a little feta cheese on my plate 🙂 Thanks for a great recipe and now I’ll even have leftovers for a few days 🙂 So refreshing

  2. Lissa says

    5 stars
    This was SO delicious! I used my homemade pesto that I found in the freezer from last fall. A good pesto is essential for this dish. I also added a cup of fresh green peas, and I used whole wheat fusilli for the pasta. I ate two big servings it was so good!

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