Chicken Caprese Pasta Recipe

Active Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

20 mins

Servings:

4

A hot pasta dish doesn't always have to be loaded down with sausage, cheese, and a heavy sauce. Lighten up dinner, and try this quick and easy Chicken Caprese Pasta, which is lightly flavored with a bright, store-bought pesto. It's a great way to use up a bumper crop of tomatoes and herbs.

Tender, fresh linguine works well with the pesto, but you can use dried pasta as well. When making any type of pasta dish, one simple trick will take the dish from good to great: the cooking water. Add about 2 tablespoons of kosher salt to a large stockpot of boiling water. When the pasta is cooked, reserve a cup or two before draining. The salty, starchy liquid combines with the other ingredients to season your sauce, give it a silky texture, and help it cling to the noodles.

What Is a Caprese?

Caprese typically refers to a Caprese salad. Insalata Caprese, "salad of Capri," is an iconic Italian dish, showcasing the colors of the Italian flag using a combination of mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes. It's typically dressed simply with olive oil, salt, and pepper for a hearty, light, but incredibly flavorful dish.

This pasta dish calls on those same classic ingredients, and is brightened with the addition of a fresh herb pesto.

Ingredients for Chicken Caprese Pasta

Rotisserie chicken and store-bought pesto make Chicken Caprese Pasta the perfect weeknight meal. To make it, you'll need:

Fresh linguine: Fresh pasta is lovely in this dish, but dried pasta will work as well.
Kosher salt: To salt the water.
Olive oil: Flavorful fat used to quickly cook the tomatoes, shallot, and garlic.
Shallot: Adds a mild onion flavor.
Garlic cloves: Minced garlic adds depth to the pasta.
Shredded rotisserie chicken: You can also substitute with roasted or grilled chicken.
Fresh herb pesto: Buy a jar, or make your own.
Fresh basil: Part of the iconic trinity for a traditional Caprese dish.
Mozzarella: We call for torn pieces, but you can also chop your cheese into small sections, or use bocconcini (small mozzarella balls) instead.

How To Make Chicken Caprese Pasta

This dish comes together in under 20 minutes for a quick and easy dinner recipe you'll fall back on time and time again. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

Step 1. Add salt to boiling water and cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups cooking water.
Step 2. Heat oil over medium-high. Add tomatoes and cook until slightly softened. Add shallot and cook until softened. Stir in garlic; cook 1 minute.
Step 3. Stir in chicken, pasta, and pesto to coat. Add 1/2 cup cooking water. Stir in remaining cooking water, 1/4 cup at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
Step 4. Serve sprinkled with basil and mozzarella.

How To Store Leftover Chicken Caprese Pasta

There's nothing better than having leftover pasta ready to heat up for lunch the next day. Refrigerate leftover Caprese pasta in an airtight container for up to three days. Enjoy at room temperature or warmed on the stovetop before serving.

More Caprese-Inspired Dishes

The popularity of the Caprese salad has led to numerous incarnations of it, including some of these favorites:

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.

Ingredients

1 (9-oz.) pkg. fresh linguine
2 Tbsp. kosher salt
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 pints cherry tomatoes
1 shallot, thinly sliced (about 1 oz.)
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
Fresh herb pesto
1/4 cup small fresh basil leaves
4 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, torn into 1/2-in. pieces

Directions

Cook pasta:

Cook pasta according to package directions in a large Dutch oven, adding salt once water comes to a boil. Drain pasta, reserving 1 1/2 cups cooking water.
Cook tomatoes and aromatics:

Wipe Dutch oven clean, and add olive oil. Heat oil over medium-high. Add tomatoes to hot oil, and cook, stirring often, until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add shallot, and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic; cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute.
Complete pasta:

Add chicken, pasta, and herb pesto to coat. Add 1/2 cup of reserved cooking water, stirring to combine. Gradually stir in remaining cooking water, 1/4 cup at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
Add garnishes, and serve:

Transfer to a serving platter, and sprinkle with basil and mozzarella. Serve immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different type of pasta for this Chicken Caprese Pasta?

You can use dried as well as fresh pasta for this recipe, and the sky is the limit in terms of what shape to use. If your family has a favorite type of pasta, feel free to substitute it in.
Can I substitute the basil in Chicken Caprese Pasta?

While basil is a classic component of a Caprese, you can substitute for baby spinach, which will cook down and add color (but not the same flavor), or parsley.
Can I make this dish vegetarian?

You can skip adding the chicken to this Chicken Caprese Pasta for a vegetarian version.