Learn to make a creamy basil chicken pasta with this simple recipe. This farm-fresh dish is seasoned with garlic, cream, parmesan, and tossed with the best of our farmer’s summer veggies. This recipe can be made in under 30 minutes for a delicious and healthy lunch or dinner.
Learn to make a creamy basil chicken pasta with this simple recipe. This farm-fresh dish is seasoned with garlic, cream, parmesan, and tossed with the best of our farmer’s summer veggies. This recipe can be made in under 30 minutes for a delicious and healthy lunch or dinner.
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AN EASY SUMMER DISH
It’s late summer here but I’m still living in the mid-summer mindset when it comes to cooking.
Many people think you have to follow a fancy recipe or be a master chef to make delicious meals, but it’s just not true.
All you really need is … food! I’m talking veggies, herbs, meat, dairy… you know where I’m going with this.
So many recipes I see online require all sorts of ingredients I’ve never heard of. Whatever happened to simple cooking, with whole ingredients like chicken and vegetables?
This creamy basil chicken pasta can be made with whatever vegetables you have on hand and a few other staple ingredients. I think it tastes better than creamy comfort pasta you would find at a restaurant.
Plus it’s made with farm fresh ingredients, which helps it taste that much better. When the quality of your ingredients is high, it’s already going to taste so good that if you botch the recipe a little, you won’t even notice.
You don’t even need to follow this recipe to a T. Just combine your favorite veggies, whip up the creamy parmesan sauce, add some cooked chicken or other meat, and serve over pasta. It’s so easy to create a delicious, comforting meal with this easy basil chicken pasta recipe.
A NOTE ON EINKORN PASTA
I prefer to make this healthy chicken pasta dish with einkorn pasta. Einkorn is an ancient grain that is non-hybridized, meaning it isn’t genetically modified during the growing process. This allows the grain to be healthier for you.
Jovial is my go-to for all things einkorn. There are many benefits to einkorn explained on their website, but here are just a few:
Einkorn is lower in gluten which makes it easier to digest.
It is never bleached, bromated, or enriched.
It is richer in carotenoids, B vitamins, and essential & trace minerals than modern wheat.
Of course, you can use your pasta of choice in this recipe. But the einkorn has a nice nutty and rich flavor, which I really like with the creamy sauce.
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TOOLS NEEDED
Stockpot (for boiling pasta)
Large skillet (we like using Lodge)
Medium saucepan
Knife and cutting board for veggies
INGREDIENTS
1 box pasta of choice (we love this einkorn penne)
1 cup cooked shredded chicken (leftovers make it easy)
Basil cream sauce:
3 tablespoons butter
1 handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped or torn to desired size
1/4 cup cream
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 – 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Salt & pepper to taste
Veggie mixture:
1 small onion, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
Chopped vegetables of choice: in this case I’m using zucchini, peppers, tomatoes
avocado oil for sautéing
THE PROCESS
Fill a stockpot with water and heat to boiling. While water is heating up, preheat a skillet on medium high for the veggies. Add avocado oil, then sauté the veggies for 10 minutes or until soft.
Next, heat up a small saucepan on medium. Add the butter and garlic, and saute for 3-5 minutes. Then lower the heat to low and add the basil, cheese, and cream, and stir. Keep stirring continuously so the cream doesn’t curdle.
Next add your pasta to boiling water. Cut up some leftover chicken (or meat of choice) and add to the basil cream mixture, and stir.
When pasta is al dente, drain and coat it with olive oil and salt; stir. Then add the veggie mixture and the chicken/basil mixture, making sure to drizzle the sauce over the pasta. Shred some fresh parmesan cheese over the top of the whole thing and enjoy!
FAQ
What meat should I use in creamy basil pasta?
Besides chicken, for this recipe I would recommend a high quality, mild Italian sausage if you can find it! Otherwise, salmon would be a delicious option. But really, any meat would work. Sub the basil for a complementary herb for whatever protein you have on hand.
What can I use instead of cream in pasta sauce?
Half & half would be a fine substitute; be sure to cook over low heat, as it can curdle easily. Another option is to sub the 1/4 cup cream with 1/4 cup cold milk + 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot powder. The cornstarch or arrowroot powder will will thicken up the milk. Make sure to whisk until cornstarch is completely dissolved.
MORE FARM FRESH RECIPES FROM THE HOMESTEAD
Kohlrabi Slaw with Roasted Potatoes
Sourdough Pizza with Chicken and Veggies
Creamy Basil Chicken Pasta
This creamy chicken basil pasta is the perfect balance of creamy cheese with basil, chicken, and vegetables for a delicious yet quick meal.
Ingredients
- 1 box pasta of choice
- 1 cup cooked shredded chicken (I love using leftovers here)
Basil Cream Sauce
- 3 TB butter
- 1 handful fresh basil leaves, chopped or torn to desired size
- 1/4 cup cream
- 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/4 - 1/2 cup shredded parmesan
- salt & pepper to taste
Veggie Mixture
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 TB butter
- chopped veggies of choice: in this case I'm using zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes
- avocado oil for sautéing
Instructions
- Fill a stockpot with water and heat to boiling. While water is heating up, preheat a skillet on medium high for the veggies. Add avocado oil, then sauté the veggies for 10 minutes or until soft.
- Next, heat up a small saucepan on medium. Add the butter and garlic, and saute for 3-5 minutes. Then lower the heat to low and add the basil, cheese, and cream, and stir. Keep stirring continuously so the cream doesn't curdle.
- Next add your pasta to boiling water. Cut up some leftover chicken (or meat of choice) and add to the basil cream mixture, and stir.
- When pasta is al dente, drain and coat it with olive oil and salt; stir. Then add the veggie mixture and the chicken/basil mixture, making sure to drizzle the sauce over the pasta. Shred some fresh parmesan cheese over the top of the whole thing and enjoy!
PIN IT FOR LATER!
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