one pot chicken pesto pasta with asparagus

Chicken

One Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta with Asparagus

This healthy chicken pesto pasta recipe is easy to make, thanks to convenience ingredients like rotisserie chicken and store-bought pesto. The addition of fresh asparagus brightens up the look and flavors of this easy one-pot dinner. Fresh basil, if you have it on hand, is a nice finishing touch.

Ingredients

8 ounces whole-wheat penne
1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
3 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1 (7 ounce) container refrigerated basil pesto
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
1 ounce parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/4 cup)
small fresh basil leaves for garnish

Directions

Cook pasta in a large pot according to package directions. Add asparagus to the pot during the final 2 minutes of cooking time. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water.
Return the pasta mixture to the pot; stir in chicken, pesto, salt and pepper. Stir in the reserved cooking water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to reach desired consistency. Transfer the mixture to a serving dish; sprinkle with Parmesan and garnish with basil, if desired. Serve immediately.