One Pot Chicken Caesar Pesto Pasta.

One Pot Chicken Caesar Pesto Pasta: made in no time at all, this one-pot, 35-minute pasta is one you’ll want to make on repeat! Pan-seared chicken, fresh arugula, and basil pesto are tossed with your favorite pasta in a creamy Caesar-Parmesan sauce. Stir in an extra spoonful of pesto and some fresh basil at the end for a simple but seriously delicious meal.

Lately, I’ve been all about sheet-pan dinners, skillet meals, and one-pot pastas—this time of year just seems to call for them. Everyone in my family has been on the go this spring (me included!), and with travel and packed schedules, I still want to keep home-cooked meals a priority…even if I only have 30 minutes to pull them off.

I’ve also been thinking about meals that are easy to make while traveling. I’m hoping to join my family for part of their month-long trip. My mom always books a residence-style hotel room instead of a regular one—it gives us more space and, most importantly, a kitchen to cook in! They love to stay in and make dinner most nights, and so do I.

When I visit, it’s so nice to have a go-to recipe like a one-pot pasta. They’re simple, quick, and perfect for feeding everyone without making a mess.

With warmer days finally in the forecast (New York is full of blooming flowers right now—I just love it!), I’ve been seriously craving Caesar salad. That’s when I had the idea to turn my homemade Caesar dressing into a creamy chicken Caesar pasta.

And let me tell you—it turned out so wonderfully! It’s the kind of dish I know I’ll be making and sharing all year long.

I used arugula for some fresh greens, but feel free to swap in whatever looks best at the market. Spinach or baby kale would be great too!

Here’s to simple dinners that taste like something extra. Hope this one brings a little joy (and a lot of flavor) to your table!

Here are the Details

Ingredients

• salted butter
• chicken breast or thighs
• onion powder
• garlic powder
• paprika
• chili flakes
• basil pesto
• garlic
• Short-cut pasta – I love sedanini pasta or bow-tie for this
• whole milk
• cream cheese
• Caesar dressing – make a homemade Caesar
• parmesan cheese
• arugula – or spinach/kale/whatever you enjoy
• fresh basil and fresh dill

Special Tools

For this recipe, you’ll need a large pot but not much else!

Steps

Step 1: cook the chicken

In a big pot, toss the chicken with butter, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and chili flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Allow the chicken to cook fully and brown around the edges.

Just before the chicken is finished cooking, I like to mix in a few spoonfuls of basil pesto. Now, remove the chicken from the pot.

Step 2: cook the pasta

To that same pot, add a pat of additional butter, then the garlic. Cook just a minute, maybe 2, until the garlic is fragrant and begins to turn golden. I like it when the butter starts to brown a bit too!

Okay, now is when you will mix in the pasta. Add water and cook until the pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes. Add salt and stir often to ensure the pasta does not stick. If you do not stir often, the pasta tends to get stuck on the bottom of the pot.

Step 3: add milk and the ranch dressing.

Next, mix in the milk, Caesar dressing, and parmesan. Stir until the pasta is fully cooked and the sauce is creamy.

Slide the chicken back into the pasta. Add lots of fresh greens—I really like arugula. Then add the lemon juice and give it a stir.

Now, serve this up with freshly grated Parmesan and basil! It’s so quick and yummy! And while I know it’s different, the Caesar dressing is just delish when mixed with the pasta. It’s very Alfredo-like.

Looking for other one-pot recipes? Here are my favorites: 

French Onion Pasta with Crispy Prosciutto

One Skillet White Chicken Chili Bake

Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta

Lastly, if you make this One Pot Chicken Caesar Pesto Pasta, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!