Creamy tomato pesto and chicken pasta

Every now and then I fall back on an easy favorite. Some form of pesto pasta. Recently, when I went to the store, they didn't have basil pasta, so I ended up with tomato pesto instead. I did what I usually do with pesto and pasta and this I think turned out even tastier than my usual basil pesto pasta. I might like it a little better than the basil version and if you want basil pesto instead of tomato, just switch it out. Easy peasy.

I cheat a little with this recipe cos I don't bother to make my own pesto. I go to the refrigerator deli section of my grocery store and pick up a couple small tubs of chunky pesto dip. Doesn't matter if it's basil or tomato. This makes a great sauce with a little thickened cream.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 250gm pasta (I use penne but any kind of pasta works)
• 3 chicken thighs
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bunch of asparagus, diced into 1cm pieces
• 2 small tubs of chunky tomato pesto
• 150ml thick cream
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions:

• On a baking sheet, set out chicken thighs. Spray or drizzle olive oil on the chicken then sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Put in oven at 200°C for 20 minutes. When chicken is ready, take out of oven and cut into bite size pieces and set aside. Cooked this way the chicken stays really juicy and tasty.
• While chicken is cooking start cooking the pasta. Cook according to packet instructions.
• Put some olive oil into a large frying pan. Add onions and garlic and cook for a minute or two. Do not burn the garlic. 
• Add asparagus and cook for another 2 minutes until asparagus is cooked through but still crunchy.
• Add chicken pieces and mix well.
• Add tomato pesto and mix through everything. Cook lightly, stirring constantly for 1 or 2 minutes. 
• Add cream and continue cooking on a low heat for another minute or two until the cream thickens slightly.
• Add pasta and mix through thoroughly.
• Serve and sprinkle with parsley to garnish. Enjoy

If you do make this, be sure to post pictures for me to see either on Instagram - be sure to tag me with @langshipley or on my Daz In The Kitchen Facebook page.

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