Description
This Chicken and Corn Pasta is a delightful blend of flavors with tender chicken, sweet corn, and creamy pesto, perfect for a quick and satisfying meal. You’ll love its simple preparation and rich taste, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights, family dinners, or any occasion that calls for comfort food.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 ounces uncooked pasta (casarecce, cavatappi, rotini, or penne)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch chunks
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup diced shallots
- 2 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen (defrosted)
- 1/3 cup pesto
- 1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
- 1/4 cup heavy cream or half and half
- basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Season the chicken with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 2-3 minutes to develop a golden crust. Flip and cook until done, then remove from the skillet.
- Lower the heat to medium and sauté shallots and corn in the same skillet for 2-3 minutes until tender.
- Return the chicken to the skillet along with the cooked pasta and pesto. Stir to combine and coat with pesto.
- Add heavy cream and parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and warmed through. Adjust seasonings as needed.
- Garnish with extra parmesan and basil leaves if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Feel free to use any short pasta shape you prefer for this recipe.
Add more vegetables like spinach or bell peppers for extra nutrition.
This dish can be easily made ahead and reheated for lunch or dinner.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg