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Spicy Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe
A chicken pesto pasta recipe with a twist, made extra spicy with roasted jalapeno peppers, prepared with spinach and basil, pecans, manchego cheese and more. If you enjoy pecan pesto, you'll love this version.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 2
Calories: 691 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 2 medium chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup spinach
- 1/4 cup basil
- 1 roasted jalapeno pepper + extras for serving if desired
- 1/4 cup olive oil + a bit more for cooking
- 1/4 cup pecans
- 1/4 cup shredded manchego cheese
- A bit of pasta water for the pesto
- Cooked pasta to serve
- Seared asparagus spears for topping
Instructions
- Pound the chicken breasts flat to about 1 inch with a meat tenderizer. Rub them down with a bit of olive oil then season with dried basil, dried oregano, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt and pepper.
- Heat a pan to medium heat and sear them 3-4 minutes per side, until they are cooked through. Set aside.
- While chicken is cooking, get your pasta going by bringing a pot of salted water to boil. Boil the pasta noodles according to your box directions. Should be 10 minutes or so. I used rotini noodles!
- While pasta is cooking, heat a small pan to medium heat. Dry roast the pecans a couple minutes until they start to brown. Add them to a food processor.
- Splash the same pan with oil and add garlic clove. Toss and cook about a minute or so, until you can smell the garlic. Into the food processor it goes.
- To the food processor, add spinach, basil, 1 roasted jalapeno pepper, olive oil, and manchego cheese. Process to form your pesto. If you'd like to thin out your pesto, add a couple tablespoons of the pasta water and process.
- Drain pasta and toss it with the pesto. Serve with extra sliced jalapeno peppers and top with seared asparagus spears, if desired. Enjoy!
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
691kcal
(35%)
Carbohydrates
6g
(2%)
Protein
59g
(118%)
Fat
47g
(72%)
Saturated Fat
9g
(45%)
Cholesterol
161mg
(54%)
Sodium
236mg
(10%)
Potassium
601mg
(17%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
995IU
(20%)
Vitamin C
10.8mg
(12%)
Calcium
257mg
(26%)
Iron
4.8mg
(27%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 691
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 691kcal | 35% |
| Carbohydrates | 6g | 2% |
| Protein | 59g | 118% |
| Fat | 47g | 72% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Cholesterol | 161mg | 54% |
| Sodium | 236mg | 10% |
| Potassium | 601mg | 13% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 995IU | 20% |
| Vitamin C | 10.8mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 257mg | 26% |
| Iron | 4.8mg | 27% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.