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Flavorful Trader Joes Copycat Pesto Chicken Pasta Easy Homemade Recipe

Trader Joes Copycat Pesto Chicken Pasta - featured image
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A quick and easy homemade version of Trader Joe’s pesto chicken pasta featuring fresh basil pesto, tender chicken, and melty mozzarella. Perfect for weeknight dinners or casual get-togethers.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb / 450 g), sliced into strips or bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (for cooking)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried Italian herbs or oregano (optional)
  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed (washed and dried)
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ⅓ cup pine nuts (lightly toasted; walnuts can be substituted)
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
  • 8 oz (225 g) pasta of choice (penne, fusilli, or farfalle recommended)
  • Salted water for boiling pasta
  • 6 oz (170 g) fresh mozzarella, torn into bite-sized pieces
  • Extra Parmesan for sprinkling
  • Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 8 oz of pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente (9-11 minutes). Reserve about ½ cup of pasta water before draining. Drain pasta and set aside.
  2. While pasta cooks, combine 2 cups fresh basil, ½ cup grated Parmesan, ⅓ cup toasted pine nuts, and 2 garlic cloves in a food processor. Pulse to break down ingredients. Slowly drizzle in ½ cup olive oil while processing until smooth but still textured. Season with salt, pepper, and optional lemon juice. Adjust to taste.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried Italian herbs. Cook chicken 4-5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (internal temp 165°F). Remove from heat.
  4. In the skillet off heat, add drained pasta and pesto. Toss gently to coat, adding reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time to loosen sauce if needed.
  5. Return cooked chicken to skillet and fold into pasta and pesto mixture. Scatter torn mozzarella over top and cover skillet with lid for 2-3 minutes on low heat to melt cheese.
  6. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and extra Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately while warm and melty.

Notes

Toast pine nuts until just golden to enhance flavor but watch carefully to avoid burning. Drizzle olive oil slowly when making pesto to avoid oily texture. Pat chicken dry before seasoning to get a golden crust. Save some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. For dairy-free version, substitute Parmesan with nutritional yeast and mozzarella with plant-based cheese.

Nutrition

Keywords: pesto chicken pasta, Trader Joe's copycat, homemade pesto, easy dinner, mozzarella pasta, quick pasta recipe, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://tessierecipes.com/flavorful-trader-joes-copycat-pesto-chicken-pasta-easy-homemade-recipe/