Mint Pistachio Pesto Chicken Pasta

I absolutely love making pesto sauces in summer, because it means I don’t have a sauce simmering for hours over a hot stove. They are so simple, quick and flavorful. This week I drew inspiration from both of my grandmothers for this incredible mint pistachio pesto chicken pasta. The pesto and pasta parts are so quintessentially Italian for Lulu. The spices in the chicken, and the flavors of the pesto with the mint and pistachio is heavily influenced by my Lebanese Jeanie. So really, this dish is a perfect example of what this blog is all about! I love merging my two heritages in my dishes.

I made the mint pistachio pesto sauce first. It was so simple! My food processor did all of the work for me. The mint and pistachio worked so gorgeously together, while the parmesan and olive oil brought it all together into a gorgeous, substantial texture.
Once the pesto sauce was done, the whole dish came together very quickly. I cooked the chicken with lots of gorgeous spices, garlic, and cherry tomatoes. Then I added in the sauce and my cooked pasta and tossed it all together. I used gluten free corn pasta here to make this more low carb. Plus the corn flavor really added to the dish!

That was all there was to this amazing, 30 minute meal! I loved how I could throw this together easily for a busy weeknight. Best of all, it had all of the fantastic flavors of my two heritages in one gorgeous bowl. I hope you all love it too! xoxo

Mint Pistachio Pesto Chicken Pasta
Mint Pistachio Pesto Chicken Pasta
4.67 from 3 votes
Mint Pistachio Pesto Chicken Pasta
Mint Pistachio Pesto Chicken Pasta
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

This is such an incredible and easy mint pistachio pesto chicken pasta, with lots of flavorful pesto and spiced chicken over gluten free pasta.

Course: Main Course
Keyword: Mint Pistachio Pesto Chicken Pasta, Pasta
Servings: 6
Calories: 466 kcal
Author: Jeanie and Lulu's Kitchen
Ingredients
FOR THE MINT PISTACHIO PESTO
  • 3 cups fresh mint
  • 1/2 cup shelled pistachios
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 cup olive oil
FOR THE CHICKEN PASTA
  • 1 dash olive oil
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken diced small
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch black pepper
  • 16 whole cherry tomatoes halved
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 pound short gluten free pasta like corn penne
Instructions
  1. First, make the pesto sauce. Set up a food processor and combine the mint, pistachios, parmesan and salt in its bowl. Pulse it all together until it is pasty. Then keep it running while you slowly pour in the olive oil until it becomes a gorgeous, thin pesto sauce. Set it aside and get a large pot of water on the stove to boil for the pasta. While it comes to a boil, get another large skillet with deep sides on the stove and heat the olive oil in it over medium high heat. Cook the diced chicken in it until it is completely cooked through and just starts to brown. While it cooks, season it with the turmeric, coriander, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper. 

  2. Once the chicken cooks, add in the cherry tomatoes and garlic. Let them get fragrant and soften for a couple of minutes with the chicken, then pour in the sauce. Let all of that simmer together for 5-7 minutes to develop flavor. Meanwhile, salt the pasta cooking water generously and pour the pasta in to cook. The pasta should take about 6-8 minutes to cook. Before you drain it, reserve 1/4 cup of the water and pour it into the pan of chicken and sauce to loosen it up. Drain the pasta and toss it into the pan with the rest of it and mix it all together thoroughly. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Mint Pistachio Pesto Chicken Pasta
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 466 Calories from Fat 78
% Daily Value*
Fat 8.7g13%
Saturated Fat 1.9g12%
Cholesterol 48mg16%
Sodium 208mg9%
Potassium 541mg15%
Carbohydrates 64.3g21%
Fiber 6.7g28%
Sugar 3.4g4%
Protein 32.4g65%
Calcium 150mg15%
Iron 9mg50%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Mint Pistachio Pesto Chicken Pasta
Mint Pistachio Pesto Chicken Pasta

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10 thoughts on “Mint Pistachio Pesto Chicken Pasta”

  1. YUM! I love a good 30 minute meal and pesto sauce is one of my favorites! I have got to try this soon

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