Pesto Pasta with Chicken

Ingredients

• 1½ lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 12 oz pasta (e.g., penne, rotini, spaghetti)
• ¾ cup prepared basil pesto
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)

Steps

1. Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. Cook pasta according to package directions in a large pot of salted boiling water. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
4. Return cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and pesto to the skillet with the chicken. Toss to combine.
5. If the sauce is too thick, add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
6. Serve immediately, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese and halved cherry tomatoes, if desired.