Super Vegetable Pesto Pasta With Pan Seared Oven Roasted Chicken

Submitted by Drazen

"I have tried many different pesto recipes and tried to combine what I liked most from all of them to create this pesto sauce. I LOVE baked tomatoes with basil and balsalmic vinegar, so that is why I added these three to the recipe. The asparagus was on hand and thought it would bring a nice flavor to the recipe, as well as the scallions."

 

• Ready In: 40mins
• Ingredients: 18
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• PESTO SAUCE

• 1⁄2 cup pine nuts
• 2 cups fresh basil
• 1⁄4 cup fresh thyme
• 1 cup fresh parsley
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 3⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

• CHICKEN VEGGIES PASTA

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 4 chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons McCormick grill seasoning
• 2 cups flour
• 4 plum tomatoes
• 3⁄4 cup scallion, chopped
• 2 cups asparagus, chopped
• 12 ounces whole wheat spaghetti

directions

1. Place pin nuts in a non-stick skillet and toast over medium heat until slightly browned (3 to 5 mins).
2. While pin nuts are toasting, put remaining 9 ingredients in a food processor.
3. When pin nuts are toasted add them to the food processor and mix pesto sauce until smooth.
4. In a large pot, start boiling water for pasta.
5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
6. While water is coming to a boil, cut up the asparagus, scallions and tomatoes, keeping them all separate from one another.
7. Cook spaghetti according to box directions. Add asparagus to water 5 minutes before pasta is fully cooked, strain, and replace in pot over lowest heat setting. Add pesto sauce to spaghetti and mix.
8. Heat oil in oven proof skillet over medium-high heat.
9. Fillet chicken breasts in half, sprinkle with grill seasoning, coat with flour and place in skillet and cook 2-3 mins on each side until slightly browned.
10. Add tomatoes and scallions to chicken and place skillet into preheated oven.
11. Cook chicken for 15-20 minutes.
12. When chicken is done, remove from oven.
13. Place Pesto-asparagus pasta on a plate and place a slice of chicken on top. Garnish as desired.

Reviews

[Margo59]

I made this just like written. It was just ok to me. I gave it 3 stars, but my family thought it was a 4 star. If I were to make it again, I think I would just use the bottled Classico Basil Pesto. This pesto did not have the flavor I like in the bottled sauce. I always enjoy making new recipes, so thank you for posting.

 

[Cookit4me2]

The flavors of the veggies and pesto together were terrific! I have been trying to find a sauce to go with wheat pasta and this was it! Thanks for sharing!!