Description
Pesto Pasta with Crispy Parmesan Chicken is a flavorful and satisfying dish that combines creamy pesto pasta with golden, crispy Parmesan-coated chicken. It's a perfect balance of textures and flavors, ideal for a weeknight dinner or special occasion.
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Eggs
- All-purpose flour
- Pasta (fettuccine or spaghetti)
- Basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Fresh basil (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness to ensure they cook evenly.
- Season the flour with garlic and onion powder, then prepare a breading station with flour, beaten eggs, and a Parmesan-panko mixture.
- Dredge each chicken breast in flour, dip it in the beaten eggs, and coat it in the Parmesan-panko mixture.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook the chicken until golden brown and crispy on both sides. Finish cooking in the oven if needed.
- Meanwhile, boil the pasta until al dente, drain it, and toss it with basil pesto.
- Slice the crispy Parmesan chicken and place it over the pesto-coated pasta, then finish with a sprinkle of Parmesan and fresh basil (optional) for garnish.
Notes
- For a lighter version, bake the chicken instead of pan-frying.
- Substitute chicken with shrimp or zucchini noodles for a lower-carb option.
- Adding a splash of heavy cream to the pesto pasta gives it a richer flavor.
- Sun-dried tomato pesto is a delicious variation of regular basil pesto.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To keep the chicken crispy, rest it on a wire rack after frying instead of placing it on a plate.
- If using gluten-free pasta, substitute flour and breadcrumbs with gluten-free options.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
