This Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta with Bacon is a one bowl dinner can be ready to enjoy in 30 minutes – the perfect midweek meal! It is a family friendly dinner recipe and can be made up to two days in advance as well as also being freezer friendly.

Why you will love this recipe:
- Pantry Staples – you don’t need any special ingredients for this recipe.
- Cream Free- milk rather than cream is used in this recipe.
- 30 Minutes – you can have this meal ready to enjoy within 30 minutes.
- Freezer friendly – pop any leftovers into the freezer and store for up to two months.

Ingredients:
Please note you will find the full ingredient list and recipe method in the recipe card below.
- Chicken – you can use either chicken breast or thigh for this recipe.
- Bacon – optional.
- Pasta – I like to use either fettuccine or spirals but you can use any type of pasta.
- Milk – I recommend full cream milk for this recipe. You can use cream if you wish.

Tips for Making this Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe:
- For a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and bacon.
- You can use either chicken breast or thigh.
- I recommend using full cream milk, you can use cream if you prefer.
- Any leftovers are best enjoyed within two days, alternatively you can freeze for up to two months.
- Feeding a crowd? You can double the recipe. Please ensure you are using a pot larger enough to accomodate your ingredients.
You can also find more easy dinners here:
- Curried Sausage Pasta
- Homemade Beef and Vegetable Pasties
- Quick Sausage Pasta
- Healthy Sausage Rolls
- Chicken Avocado and Pesto Quesadilla
- Mini Ham and Cheese Quiches
- Rissoles Recipe | Made with Beef and Vegetables
- Chicken and Vegetable Parma Balls
- Easy Thermomix Chicken Curry
- Bacon Spinach and Feta Quiche

Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta
This Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta is a great family friendly meal and can be made using just one pot. It's perfect for those weeknight dinners and it can also be made ahead and frozen until needed.
Equipment
- large pot
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 brown onion grated
- 500 grams chicken breast cubed
- 4 rashers bacon shortcut
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 litre vegetable stock
- ¼ cup pesto
- ⅓ cup milk
- 300 grams pasta fettuccine or spiral pasta
- 50 grams parmesan cheese finely grated
Instructions
- Slice your chicken breast and bacon into pieces and set aside until needed.
- In a large saucepan, add the olive oil and warm over a medium/high heat and add the onion and the garlic along with the chicken and bacon pieces and cook for 4 – 5 minutes or until the chicken begins to brown and the onion is translucent.
- Add the vegetable stock and pasta and stir through to combine. Bring the mixture to the boil before reducing to a medium heat and placing the lid onto the saucepan. Let the pasta cook for 8 – 10 minutes or until cooked through and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the milk, pesto and parmesan cheese. Stir these ingredients through the pasta before replacing the lid and allowing to cook for a further 2 – 3 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and bacon.
- You can use either chicken breast or thigh.
- I recommend using full cream milk, you can use cream if you prefer.
- Any leftovers are best enjoyed within two days, alternatively you can freeze for up to two months.
- Feeding a crowd? You can double the recipe. Please ensure you are using a pot larger enough to accomodate your ingredients.
Nutrition
Serving: 0gCalories: 335kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 34gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 93mgSodium: 896mgPotassium: 795mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 807IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 221mgIron: 2mg
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Karen
I loved it. Added a few mushrooms and used leftover roast chicken. Added a tsp extra pesto and a little cream at end to make more creamy and saucy.
Louise
What kind of pesto did you use?
Lauren Matheson
HI Louise, you can use any type of pesto. I like the Jamie Oliver or woolworths brand 🙂
Maureen meade
Worth a try