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–+ servings
a large bowl of pasta covered in green pasta sauce

Green Pasta Sauce Recipe

This green pasta sauce recipe the perfect pairing with tender pasta, juicy chicken, and fresh garden veggies! This simple meal will be the best dinner of the summer.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 428 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Broccoli Pesto

  • 4 cups broccoli florets and stems 8 oz /250g
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ¾ cup parmesan cheese shredded
  • Zest from 2 lemons 2 tablespoons
  • Juice from 1 lemon 2.5 tablespoons
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup slivered almonds
  • 1 cup basil leaves

For the Pasta

  • 8 oz uncooked pasta of your choice
  • 1.5 cups broccoli florets cut into very small pieces
  • 1 cup broccoli pesto recipe above
  • 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes halved
  • 2 chicken breasts cooked and cubed

Instructions
 

  • Start a large pot of salted water to boil on the stove for your pasta.
  • Place all Broccoli Pesto ingredients in a 7-cup food processor fitted with a steel blade. Blend until smooth, occasionally pausing to scrape down the sides and lids. Set this aside for now.
  • Once water is boiling, cook your choice of pasta according to package directions. Timing will depend on the type of pasta you chose.
  • When there is only one minute of cook time left on the pasta, add the broccoli florets to the pasta water. After one minute, reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid and drain the pasta and broccoli.
  • Mix together 1 cup of broccoli pesto with the cooking liquid and cherry tomatoes, and stir for 2-3 minutes, until smooth.
  • Return the pasta and broccoli to the pot along with the chicken breast, and stir until coated in the sauce.

Notes

  • The pesto recipe makes 2-2.5 cups of pesto, however only 1 cup is needed for the pesto pasta recipe. Use your leftovers on pizza, potatoes, as a dip, or anywhere you would use basil pesto!
  • Pesto keeps in an air tight container in the fridge for up to a week. The top may discolor slightly however it is still delicious!

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25 of recipeCalories: 428kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 28gFat: 12.5gCholesterol: 35.4mgSodium: 1257.7mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4.6g
Keyword Broccoli Pesto, Green Sauce, Pesto Sauce
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