Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

This chicken pesto pasta is an easy and nourishing dinner that’s made in one pot! It’s gluten-free, and dairy-free and can easily be made nut-free.

pesto pasta in a pan with a wooden spoon.

Who doesn’t love a one-pot pasta? Recipes like this save the day on those busy evenings when you don’t want to be stuck washing tons of dishes!

This one-pot pesto pasta is made with broccoli, gluten-free pasta, chicken, and a dairy-free pesto for the perfect easy and wholesome one pot meal.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • It’s shockingly creamy. For a dairy-free dish, you’ll be shocked at how creamy this is! It really tastes like it has cheese in it.
  • It’s a one-pot dish. No straining, no extra dishes, it’s all in one pot!
  • No precooking the pasta. It all cooks in the pan with the sauce!

The Ingredients for One Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta

  • Cooked Chicken. You can use pre-cooked cubed, sliced or shredded chicken.
  • Pesto and Broth. This is the cooking liquid to make the sauce for the pasta.
  • Broccoli. I love using broccoli in this dish, but you can also use vegetables like asparagus.
  • Gluten-Free Spaghetti. You can also use grain-free options like cassava pasta for AIP. You can also use different pasta shapes, though the cooking time may vary,

One pot pesto pasta ingredients in seperate bowls

How to make the one-pot chicken pesto pasta

  • Step One. Saute the broccoli in a pan.
  • Step Two. Add the pasta, broth and pesto to the pan. Bring to a boil and reduce to cook the pasta.

uncooked one pot pesto pasta in a large pot.

  • Step Three. Add the chicken and stir in for 1 minute to combine and reheat. Serve the pasta topped with parsley and lemon zest.

Tips & Tricks

  • Precook the chicken or use shredded rotisserie chicken. I like to precook my chicken the day before to make the dish go faster.
  • Stir, stir, stir! Depending on the pasta that you use, it can get sticky or cook faster than others. Stir often to avoid sticking and to allow the excess moisture to cook off.
  • Adjust the cooking time depending on the pasta. Brown rice pasta takes longer to cook than chickpea pasta or cassava pasta. Keep an eye on your dish and pull it once the pasta is cooked.

Reheating and storage instructions

Store the pasta in a glass Tupperware for 3-4 days. Reheat the pasta on the stove in a small pan with a splash of chicken broth to help keep it moist!

Is one pot pesto pasta healthy?

Healthy means something different to everyone, but we find this pasta to be a great addition to a balanced diet!

How to make this dish AIP

One pot pesto pasta in a large pot.

You’ll also love…

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

One Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta {Gluten Free}

  • Author: Michelle
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe

Description

This chicken pesto pasta is an easy and nourishing dinner that’s made in one pot! It’s gluten-free, and dairy-free and can easily be made nut-free.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup broccoli florets
  • 12 oz gluten-free spaghetti, sub cassava spaghetti for AIP (see notes)
  • 4 1/3 cups chicken broth
  • 1/3 cup pesto (use this for AIP)
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp dried parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups chicken, cooked (cubed or shredded)
  • Fresh basil to serve
  • Zest of half a lemon

Instructions

  1. Using a large deep pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and broccoli and saute for 4-5 minutes or until the garlic is fragrant and the broccoli is bright green and lightly fork tender.
  2. Turn off the heat and add the spaghetti to the pan. The spaghetti should fit without breaking it in half. Pour the broth and pesto over the pasta, ensuring that it’s covered. Add the oregano, parsley, salt, and pepper and slightly stir.
  3. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, for 10-11 minutes, stirring the pasta often to ensure it doesn’t stick. The broth should reduce and the pasta should be cooked al dente. Add 2-3 more tablespoons of broth if the pasta needs more cook time.
  4. Add the chicken and stir in for 1 minute to combine and reheat.
  5. Serve the pasta topped with fresh basil and lemon zest.

Notes

  • Adjust the cooking time depending on the pasta. Brown rice pasta takes longer to cook than chickpea pasta or cassava pasta. Keep an eye on your dish and pull it once the pasta is cooked.
  • All nutritional information are estimations and will vary. Estimations do not include optional ingredients.
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 20
  • Category: Main Dishes
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: Global

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 456
  • Fat: 21.3g
  • Carbohydrates: 32.4g
  • Fiber: 2.6g
  • Protein: 37.1g

Keywords: one pot pesto pasta