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Chicken Florentine Pesto Pasta
Chicken Florentine Pesto Pasta
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Prep Time:
10 minutes
Cook Time:
20 minutes
Total Time:
30 minutes
Creamy basil pesto pasta with tender chicken, garlic, and spinach in a white wine sauce.
Ingredients:
  • 12 ounces dried short pasta (bowties, penne, gemelli, etc)
  • 4 chicken breast cutlets (1 to 1 1/2 pounds total)
  • Salt
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped, about 1 cup
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup white wine or stock
  • 8-16 ounces of fresh spinach*, washed, long stems removed and chopped
  • Black pepper
  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup (or more) pesto
  • *To wash spinach, fill up a clean sink basin with cold water and let the spinach soak in the water. Move it around a bit to loosen any dirt. Fresh spinach is usually pretty dirty, so you may need to do a couple of soakings. Remove the spinach and shake off excess water. Lay the spinach leaves down on a clean towel and pat dry.
Instructions:
  • Prepare the pasta: Boil a large pot of well-salted water until it tastes like the sea. Add the dried pasta and cook until just tender.
  • Prepare the chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt. Heat olive oil in a sauté pan, then sear the chicken on both sides over medium-high heat until golden brown. Remove from pan and set aside.
  • Sauté onions: Cook chopped onions in the pan for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, slice the chicken into strips, sorting cooked pieces separately from those that need more time.
  • Sauté garlic with onions until fragrant, then pour in white wine or stock. Simmer until liquid reduces by half.
  • Introduce spinach and chicken: Place the spinach and undercooked chicken in the pan. Using tongs, flip them to soak up the delicious pan juices. Cook while stirring frequently until the spinach wilts and the chicken is fully cooked, approximately 2 minutes.
  • Turn off the heat, then add black pepper, cooked chicken pieces, and pesto. Stir well. Drain the pasta and place it in a large bowl. Combine cream in the pan, then pour it over the pasta in the bowl. Mix thoroughly and serve immediately.

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