Italian-American · pasta
Smoked Chicken Pesto Penne
Smoked chicken, mushrooms, penne, pesto, and a light cream sauce make a savory restaurant-style pasta.
Total time30 min
Hands-on25 min
Cleanupmedium
Serves4
Cook
Make dinner
- 01
Boil the pasta in salted water until just tender. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
- 02
Meanwhile brown the mushrooms in olive oil in a large skillet for 6 to 8 minutes.
- 03
Add the smoked chicken and cook until it reaches 165°F, then lower the heat and stir in pesto, half-and-half, and 1/2 cup pasta water.
- 04
Add the penne and Parmesan. Toss until glossy, adding more pasta water as needed, and finish with parsley.
Make it work
Useful swaps
- Use chopped rotisserie chicken instead of smoked chicken.
- For a nut-free version, use a certified nut-free basil sauce.
Why this is a good weeknight call
The ingredient list stays focused, and the recipe has a clear stopping point instead of extra optional projects.
