Pesto Chicken Penne

Name: Pesto Chicken Penne
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6 serving(s)
Ingredients: 8 ounces penne pasta (we used whole grain); 2 (8 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced; 1 teaspoon dried onion flakes; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt; 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided; 1 cup fat free Greek yogurt (or fat free sour cream); 1 cup fat-free cottage cheese; 1/4-1/2 cup prepared pesto sauce; 1/3 cup fat-free half-and-half; 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese (you can sub sprinkle Parmesan but it's not as good)

Submitted by PSU Lioness

"This recipe is a nice change of pace from the typical pasta with meat, cheese and tomato sauce routine. It is reminiscent of macaroni and cheese but the pesto definitely offers more depth than the traditional version. All three of my kids (including my 2 year-old) cleaned their plates and that is a feat in itself! Serve with a side salad to get your veggies! (This is my adopted and revised version of Recipe #356847. I changed so many things, including halving the recipe to feed my family of five, that I figured a new recipe post was in order.)"

Download

Ready In:: 40mins
Ingredients:: 11
Serves:: 6

ingredients

8 ounces penne pasta (we used whole grain)
2 (8 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced
1 teaspoon dried onion flakes
¹⁄₂ teaspoon garlic powder
¹⁄₂ teaspoon seasoning salt
1 ¹⁄₂ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup fat free Greek yogurt (or fat free sour cream)
1 cup fat-free cottage cheese
¹⁄₄ - ¹⁄₂ cup prepared pesto sauce
¹⁄₃ cup fat-free half-and-half
¹⁄₄ cup shredded parmesan cheese (you can sub sprinkle Parmesan but it's not as good)

directions

Cook penne according to package instructions.
While penne is cooking, heat a large skillet over Medium-High heat.
Add chicken, onion flakes, garlic powder and seasoned salt and cook until chicken juices run clear or until the chicken is no longer pink in the middle.
Drain pasta and add chicken to the pasta pot. Gently toss to combine.
In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup cheddar cheese, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, pesto, half and half and shredded Parmesan. Mix well.
Pour pesto mixture into the pot with chicken and pasta. Stir gently until well coated.
Pour mixture into a 7x11 glass baking dish.
Sprinkle reserved 1/2 cup cheese over the penne mixture.
Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes or until it is hot and bubbly.
Turn oven to broil and cook for 5 minutes or until the cheese starts to brown. Watch it carefully because it can burn easily!

Questions & Replies

Got a question? Share it with the community!

Reviews

Have any thoughts about this recipe? Share it with the community!

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

PSU Lioness

Coal Township, Pennsylvania

The most defining trait in my life is that I am a mother to two wonderful boys (Tyler, 20 and Zayden, 9). I live in the little college town of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. It is the most wonderful place to live as it's nestled in the Appalachian Mountains and along the beautiful Susquehanna River. Seeing that we live in Central Pennsylvania, our family is also a bunch of HARDCORE Penn State Nittany Lion fans! We are...PENN STATE! I was lucky enough to be given tickets to see Joe Paterno win his 400th game as the head coach of the football team. I cried like I did when my children were born. The other love of my life is cooking. I didn't really start trying to cook until I was 20, but believe me I have made up for lost time! I absolutely adore baking and I do it whenever I can. I love making Christmas cookies and I have begun hosting our extended families at our home for Thanksgiving and Easter dinners. So far so good. I love food.com because it allows me to expand my culinary skills and my recipe box with ideas from other people like me. There is something for everyone and I have been a loyal member since 2005. I hope you enjoy my recipes and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

View Full Profile