Description
Delightful Pesto Chicken Tortellini blends Italian-inspired comfort with fresh garden vegetables in one skillet. Creamy pesto sauce coats tender tortellini and juicy chicken, creating a quick, satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound chicken thighs (boneless and skinless, sliced into strips)
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 1 cup tortellini (uncooked)
- 1 pound asparagus (ends trimmed and cut in half)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (yellow and red, halved)
- 0.5 cup sun-dried tomatoes (drained of oil and chopped)
Seasonings and Oil:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 0.25 cup basil pesto
- Salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, creating a sizzling cooking surface.
- Introduce seasoned chicken thighs and chopped sun-dried tomatoes, searing for 5-10 minutes until thoroughly cooked and golden brown.
- Transfer chicken and tomatoes to a separate plate, preserving the flavorful oil in the skillet.
- Add asparagus and remaining sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet, seasoning generously and cooking 5-10 minutes until vegetables reach tender-crisp texture.
- Remove asparagus to a serving plate, maintaining its vibrant green color and slight crunch.
- Simultaneously cook tortellini according to package directions, ensuring al dente consistency, then drain and reserve.
- Return chicken to the skillet, folding in basil pesto to coat evenly, warming for 1-2 minutes over low-medium heat.
- Incorporate cooked tortellini and halved cherry tomatoes, stirring gently to distribute pesto and blend flavors.
- Arrange the entire mixture atop the prepared asparagus on the serving plate.
- Fine-tune seasoning with additional salt, creating a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.
Notes
- Swap chicken thighs with tofu or plant-based protein for a vegetarian version that maintains the same rich, savory flavor profile.
- Reduce cooking time for asparagus to keep it vibrant green and maintain maximum nutritional value, aiming for a crisp-tender texture.
- Use whole wheat or gluten-free tortellini to accommodate different dietary needs without compromising the dish’s delicious taste.
- Balance pesto quantity carefully to prevent overwhelming other ingredients, allowing each component to shine and create a harmonious blend of flavors.
- Prep Time: 0 minutes
- Cook Time: 11-22 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 474 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg