Teena's Spicy Pesto Chicken and Pasta

I love anything with pesto and cheese so this was already a winner but adding vegetables (zucchini, mushrooms, red pepper, green pepper, onions), a bit of garlic and white wine was a huge plus to making it more nutritionally balanced and full flavoured...

I make this all the time! It's easy and tastes excellent. Couldn't find chili paste but chili powder works just as well!

I changed and added a few things to this recipe and made it a 5 star but I think just the way it is would've been a little plain for me so I gave it a 4 stars. I used 3/4 of a pound of fresh shrimp instead of chicken. I also added one red bell pepper, fresh mushrooms and a can of diced tomates. Instead of just 6 Tablespoons of pesto sauce, I used the whole small jar that they have in the spaghetti aisle and I added the 4 oz. of goat cheese at the end. Also, the chili paste that I used I found in the Asian food aisle of the grocery store and it was called Roasted Chili Paste. Not sure it that is the same stuff that the recipe called for but it gave it a little kick and a nice flavor. Very good recipe with a few changes and additions. ***UPDATE*** Just made this again the other night, used diced up chicken breasts, red bell pepper, red onion and diced tomatoes. Instead of goat cheese this time, I used 8 oz of reduced fat cream cheese with the pesto sauce and 3/4 cup of half and half. The cream cheese helped the pesto coat the pasta better. It was FABULOUS!!! This recipe is so easy to play with.

This was excellent. I added zucchini and sauteed mushrooms and quite a bit more pesto. My guests commented that it tasted like a dish from "an Italian restaurant," one of the highest compliments. Be sure to adapt it to your liking, it's great!

This was "TDF", to die for. I did make some suggested changes that resulted in the TDF rating. I did not have cilantro, so I used parsley. (Wife doesn't like cilantro!) I also substituted Bella Cucina Artful Food's Sun-dried Tomato Pesto. I increased the chili paste to 1 1/2 Tbs. (Sambal Oklek brand) Absolutely wonderful!

I love this pasta. I can't tell you how many people I have made it for and they all love it. When I make it just for me I go very spicy, but for company I cut back on the spice. For the chili paste I use Sambal. I wouldn't change a thing. For those that don't like this recipe you must of thought you liked pesto and hot spicy food? This is that and for me couldn't get any better. Thanks LAGIRL!

great recipe! I used chili powder, and added mushrooms, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes as others suggested. I also added half and half. I will make this again and will try with pine nuts.

Added a little less olive oil and a little more samba oelek for a little extra spiciness! LOVED IT! Will definitely be making this MANY more times to come!!!

My husband and I thought it was OK. Too much pesto, and the pasta would be oily; tried to cut down on the oil, and the pasta was too dry.

I used home made pesto and boy was this a tasty and easy meal to whip up!

WOW!! So delicious!! I used boneless pork instead of chicken and this was A M A Z I N G!!! Huge hit with my fam and a definite repeat! The kick from the chili paste makes all the difference and gives awesome flavor!!

I would make this again and again!! It turned out to be so much better than I anticipated. I used chili powder and cayenne pepper instead of chile paste. Along with chicken I also added some shrimp, peas, and broccoli. Chicken turned out to be a bit dry, but the shrimps were succulent and well-seasoned. Also, I added some reserved, salted pasta water to the dish and it created creamy, cheesy sauce. oh, I omitted cilantro. Now I'm really curious how the dish would taste with chile paste.

This was an incredible dish. I added a bit more pesto to it than was recommended. It's quick, it's simple and it tastes amazing. No complaints from any of my attentive critics

A REAL KEEPER!!! after reading several reviews I made a few changes that suit my tastes; when cooking the chicken I added a TBSP of minced garlic, then after the chicken was just about done I added 8oz of sliced fresh mushrooms. From there I followed the recipe exactly, and added toasted pine nuts for presentation. I really couldn't taste the cilantro but it added nice color. I'll keep it in the recipe as it came out so good removing anything could mess it up. This recipe is perfect for company, as you can cut / measure everything in advance and then in 15 minutes (while enjoying a glass of wine) you can prepare this in front of everyone and they will be impressed!!! Cheers!!!

Wow, this was great. I'm a novice cook and so far, this recipe has had the most flavor of everything I've made. I added 1/2 of a large red onion and several cloves of garlic (mostly to get rid of those items, they'd been sitting in my fridge for a while). Next time I make it I'll use a different type of pasta just to experiment. Thanks for the recipe, it's a keeper!

This is a tasty recipe and we'll repeat. Use whatever kind of pasta you prefer to eat. We used cavatappi and enjoyed it very much, but there's no reason you couldn't use anything else. Other than the type of pasta, we made no alterations. We found this to be both flavorful and spicy, even though some reviewers found it be neither. The quality of the chili paste may play a role. We used the Huy Fong stuff and found one tablespoon to be perfect. It gave it a nice kick, and any more probably would have been too much. I'll note that since this recipe doesn't have a traditional "sauce", the leftovers will dry out pretty quickly. By the next day the re-heated extras were decidedly disappointing. Best to eat it while it's hot and fresh!

This initially came out a little more bland than I was expecting (though I was a bit short on the basil pesto). If anyone else has this problem, try adding salt and cayenne pepper to taste. It helped to bring out the flavors and gave it the kick I was expecting.

This is absolutely my favorite recipe so far on AR. I make this every time we have company and I have yet to come across one person who doesn't love it. While it is perfect as is, you can easily adjust it to your personal taste. Add or subtract the chile paste, cheese, and/or pesto to your liking. If you want a one-dish meal, add some veggies. I suggest making extra as well since it makes great leftovers.

Very tasty item. Both my son and I enjoyed it. I also tweaked it a bit by adding mushrooms and carrots. Next time I'll add zucchini since I didn't have any this time. I simmered the chicken on a low flame a little longer while I covered the skillet. It helps the chicken absorb the chili flavor while keeping it moist. Definitely a good spice to the dish.

Very good dish! Full of flavor. I didn't have the hot chile paste so I used hot pepper flakes to taste. Not a saucy dish, which is a nice change.

Loved it! Will file this one away in my recipe book for many repeats to come. Very easy and tasty! I recommend using cavatappi pasta.

This was excellent and so easy to throw together. The only change I made was I chopped up some zucchini and threw it in there with the chicken while it cooked. I think next time I'll also add some bell pepper. Awesome recipe and will for sure make it again. Thanks!

This recipe is deliscious and very easy to make, i substituted the cilantro with sun dried tomato and added roasted pine nuts and the taste was very rustic. I cooked it for my family and they loved it. It's a very good recipe and don't be afraid to add what you like in pasta, for me this is going in my recipe box.

We love this dish. It's especially a great last-minute meal to throw together with some store-bought pesto and rotisserie chicken. Followed the suggestion of another reviewer and added some onion, zucchini, green pepper, & white wine which really gives it an even better flavor. I also sometimes substitute half butter for the olive oil.

Ok, made this recipe again, with the following mods: sauted chicken in garlic and white wine along with three tbs chili paste (we like it hot); added green and red peppers and zuccini. I thought I was cooking for three, SEVEN ended up showing up so upped the chicken and pasta content(me, hubby and five picky teens) Sigh...... no leftovers for tomorrow -- seems it was a resounding success! :( === Wonderful Taste! However, the cilantro wasn't a hit.... was one too many flavours

makes lots, is really tasty. kids loved it! i added zucchini and mushrooms to it and it went really well with it.

Really easy to make and tastes delicious. Perfect for busy worknight. I took others suggestions and used the artichokes, sun dried tomatos, and mushrooms, i chopped them all up and tossed them in the salad. Yummy, thanks for sharing this!

This is by far my favorite pasta dish. I've always loved pesto, and this recipe is so easy to make. I added mushrooms, and use more chili paste (I like it spicy!) Other than that, this recipe is perfect!!!!

I love this recipe! It's very quick and simple to make for those who want something delicious and fast. I use SRIRACHA chili sauce and it gives the chicken a nice red color. I also use more pesto as I like more sauce to cover all the pasta and the chicken. My boyfriend and I really enjoy this.

This is my all-time favorite recipe for chicken, pesto and pasta!!!

We loved this recipe as is! This is definitely a keeper. Taste great and I used absolutely no salt.

Loved this!! I made just like the recipe - except I added red onions when cooking the chicken - then added a few TBS of sour cream at the end just to make it a little creamy. Served with salad and garlic bread. Will be using this as a "go to recipe"! :)

Stunning, loved it. Added red bell peppers to the recipe but apart from that followed it to the letter. Will enjoy playing around with this recipe and adding something different each time.

This turned out awesome, although I admit I altered it a tiny bit. I didn't feel like there was enough chicken so I increased it to one and a half pounds for the 1 pound of pasta. I couldn't find fresh chili paste so I bought red garlic chili paste in the Asian section of the grocery store which tasted fantastic (I think the garlic made it even better!). The only thing I added was about 1/2 container (maybe a cup and a half?) of light sour cream to make it into a creamy pesto dish and the tartness of the sour cream really melded perfectly with all of the other flavors. The spice wasn't too hot (but it is noticeable) so I think it will go over well for the potluck I'm bringing it to but making it for myself I might increase the heat just a little more. Really great flavor and it tastes impressive, like something you'd get at a nice restaurant!

This was awesome! Very quick to make and very tasty too. I used Srirachi sauce and it was perfect for the adults. A little too spicy for my son tho, so if you have kids you might want to use a little less than called for. Toasted some garlic bread in the oven and it made for a delicious meal!

I saved this recipe and finally made it last night. I followed the directions completely and we both loved it. Next time I might add some fresh mushrooms or sun dried tomatoes...maybe not as it's easy and oh so good!

Additional sauted veggies add a nice touch but this recipe is great as is!

Add sundried tomatoes + garlic. Use Sriracha instead of chile paste. Will try with veggies next time! My fiance told me this was the best pasta dish he's ever had :)

We loved this! I made it vegetarian and didn't add the chicken, which made it even easier. I used 1 tablespoon chili powder and 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper rather than the paste. I added chopped up artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes. And I added the full container of pesto. It was very easy, very tasty, and I will definitely make again!

LOVED IT! Used homemade pesto and added sliced white mushrooms & zucchini. Very fresh and flavorful. Will make this again and again!

This was amazing! I added two minced cloves of garlic to the chicken while it was cooking, and half a minced shallot. Nearly doubled the chili sauce as we like it spicy! When the chicken was nearly done I added a chopped zucchini and half a chopped green pepper for added nutrition. Served with pine nuts on top and shredded parmesan cheese. Delicious!

im going to be honest, i was really disappointed... it was very bland. i usually read the reviews ahead of time, but i didnt until after i made it. i added some more salt, onion powder, oregano, basil, and fresh ground pepper, about 1/2 tsp-1 tsp each and it helped the flavor a lot. i will probably saute some vegetables and mix it in/have it as a side to enhance the flavor.

Picked up a deli chicken to use when I was in a hurry. This recipe is fabulous and our whole family loved it (which is a huge bonus)!

Absolutley loved this. I added portobello mushrooms to it with a splash of Vodka and a little cream cheese to make it a cream sauce. Fantastic!!!!

I made this last night and the only thing I left out was the cilantro (only because I forgot it at the store) it was awesome! My hubby is not usually a fan of spicy food, but he loved it. It wasn't super spicy, just had a nice kick to it. Definitely add the goat cheese at the end!

Would up the chili next time but otherwise very good. The goat cheese really was a nice addition.

So easy and good! We like it spicy so I had to add 3 tablespoons of the chile paste. Can't wait to make it again!

hubby really liked--probably the cilantro

We really liked this recipe. I think next time we will use a little more chili paste, we like it spicy around here. But this one is definately a keeper. Even the leftovers were great the next day!

Not the slightest bit spicy. Very dry.

This is easy and tasty but not something special.

We've made this twice now. The first time, according to instructions. Last night, we sauteed the chicken in white wine and then went with one reviewer's suggestion and added cream cheese & half and half (also mixed in baby green peas at the end)...This recipe is simple, adaptable and Delish!

WONDERFUL as written!! The chili paste is a must. I found it in the produce section with the fresh herbs. Everyone in my family loved it, and we sent leftovers to school with the kids the next day. My son is notoriously picky, and he LOVED it. I will make this again and again. Thanks for the great recipe.

This was great, perfect amount of heat. Chili Powder is not the same as Hot Chili Paste and I would not recommend this subsitiution. I have never made anything with pesto before so this was fun AND my daughter loved it.

It was good, I added some veggies, i'd make it again

My husband & I really enjoyed this recipe. It was quick, easy and yummy. I did make a few changes, but not many. Since we don't eat meat, I used Trader Joe's Soy Chicken. We like pesto, so I added more. I also sautéed some onions and added some defrosted peas at the end. Yum! Will make this again.

This was very yummy and filling. I love the spiciness. Will make again.

Thanks, Teena for a quick and very tasty chicken breast and pasta dish. For three servings, I adjusted the recipe accordingly and added a jar of marinated and drained artichoke hearts, halved. I also added a splash of white wine instead of more pesto for additional moisture.I only had high fiber, white penne pasta and it worked great.Yum. Next time I am going to try it with shrimp.

My husband and I LOVE this dish. I only use about 75% of the pasta it calls for and I add a little extra chile paste. When I don't have chile paste, I use garlic chile sauce. Definitely needs salt & pepper added to it!

This was very simple to make. I did make some changes. I used chili powder instead of looking for the paste. I used chopped cilantro leaves instead of purchasing fresh ones and cutting it up. I also added shrimp to the pasta and garlic bread as a side. It didn't take long at all to make. After finishing up, I did have to add a bit of season salt before the flavor was very bland. After that it was quite delicious.

Delish, although oily. Of course, I DID use an entire jar of pesto, so perhaps that explains all the oil that was left in the bottom of the pan, haha :-) Both my husband and myself thought it was awesome, even with the extra oiliness. Yum!

We absolutely loved this pasta. I had a ton of homemade pesto and was looking for ways to use it up, but next time I'll make the pesto just for this dish. We used about half a bag of Quorn vegetarian chicken in place of the real thing, and it worked perfectly. We also added halved cherry tomatoes, which really complemented the flavors. The chili paste that we had in the fridge was Thai, and it had a sweet undercurrent that worked well.

This was awesome! I didn’t have the hot chile paste so substituted hot sauce. I also used an organic whole grain angel hair pasta. It was so quick to make. Definitely a keeper recipe!

My boys love this. We added a little more red chili paste. We like it spicy!Will def. make again and again!

i added sauted mushrooms and zuchini...delicious

I've made this recipe twice now and my wife and I love it! Easy as can be and very flavorful. Thanks for sharing, we'll be making this for years to come!

Used shrimp and Thai chili sauce because that's what I had around. Didn't have any goat cheese or cream cheese so I tossed in about a tablespoon of butter right before adding the pasta, cilantro and parm. Might try it with a splash of cream next time. At any rate, I thought it was delicious! The chili sauce added a nice little kick to it. Quick and easy to make.

very easy to make and more flavorful than it looks! i added sauteed zuchinni and squash. can't wait to make it again :)

So yummy and so easy!! Did not have chili paste; used chili powder. After reading several other reviews, also added about 4 Tbs. cream cheese, and 1/4 cup milk. Made it very creamy and silky. Hubby loved this and I will be making it again soon!!

There was nothing wrong with this, it just wasn't anything great. I don't plan to make it again, but we will eat the leftovers. I did add the goat cheese as suggested. Without, it really would have been bland. I served it with asparagus drizzled with evoo and fresh lemon juice, kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.

Quick, simple, and it disappears in minutes!

Very nice! I didn't have cilantro, so I used parsley as someone else suggested. Added a bit of onion and some sundried tomatoes too, and it turned out very well! I reduced the olive oil by 1/2 because the pesto had enough oil; it was plenty. I'll be using this as a good basis for a quick and easy meal from now on. It's even pretty and tasty enough for casual entertaining. Thanks!

Great Recipe!!! This was my first time using Pesto at home. And I wasn't more then pleasantly surprised. I added and sauted some garlic in the oil prior to mixing everything together. I was even able to make this during the week. Great quick, easy, and tasty recipe. My 1 year old loved it. ;)

What a combination of flavors! Yum!! I added 1/2T extra chili paste and 3T of extra pesto. Leftovers are good too.

This was soooo yummy!! I did cut back on the olive oil and the pesto or it may have been too oily. Also it doesn't make a lot so if you have big eaters in your family, double the recipe. Would also be very good with scampi. I added a clove of garlic too.

This was excellent...so easy to make too !! I had dinner on the table in as little time as it took to boil the pasta. I used spicy garlic pepper sauce instead of chili paste (cant wait to try chili paste version) and it was still FAB !! I also used precooked chicken so it was a matter of heating things up...very easy, very good, cheap to make and a hit : )

I added chili oil along with the 3 tbl of oil to make it spicier. I also added parsley instead of cilantro. Over all the dish was pretty good and I would make it again.

Wow! This dish is so simple, and yet, so tasty! I wouldn't change a thing.

This was absolutely delicious! I made it exactly the way it called for and it was perfect!

I love this recipe. It's so quick and easy. And it's tasty and pretty healthy too. I personally skip the cilantro because I'm not a fan of it.

I made this as directed & thought it was pretty good. I could find chili paste but did find roasted chili paste. We didn't think that it was that spicy. I will increase the chili paste next time.

I made this tonight, didn't have the type of pasta it called for but used corkscrew pasta, and it was a hit. The family came running wondering what the smell was and I had to double the recipe,...well there isn't much left! Thanks for this recipe!

Fantastic! I followed the recipe exactly and it was great. Quick and easy to make and just the right amount of heat for me. I may try adding vegies like some other suggested next time, but it's fine as is.

My new favorite pasta dish! I made it with homemade pesto sauce. Next time, might try adding pine nuts for crunch.

The whole family loves this receipt.

Made as written, but used whole-wheat rotini (personal preference). Absolutely Five stars! Truthfully, this recipe would probably be Five stars using the bow-tie pasta too. ... Or penne, ... or linguini... Yeah, I'll be making this again, and often. Thanks, LAGIRL!

Add spinach and sun-dried tomatoes for flavor.

Very delicious. A couple of minor changes: Added fresh spinach, fresh tomatoes, garlic and onions to the pan with the chicken when sauting. Made my own pesto of tofu, some leftover broccoli, spinach, a few walnuts and some vegetable broth. No parmesan and served this over whole wheat pasta. The chili is a nice change of pace and really opens up the winter sinuses!

I was really surprised that I didn't like this more after reading the reviews. I have used this site for years and have been consistently pleased by the rating/review sections. The flavor was good but I found the ratio of pasta/chicken/pesto to be off. I think this would have been better with half the amount of pasta. I had to double the pesto and even then it didn't seem like enough. I think the flavor was good but with the amount of fat in the recipe it just wasn't worth it. I will try it again with half the pasta and adding the goat cheese (I love goat cheese in anything).

I doubled the amount of of chile paste and still couldn't taste it at all. So much for the "spicy" part. So I added 3 more tablespoons and a ton of garlic. That made it much more palatable. Surprised how bland this is without any alterations. Good starting point, though.

three people I made it for loved it and wouldn't change a thing. I, on the other hand, didn't think it was flavorful enough. way too bland for my tastes... I think more chili paste and maybe 1 tbsp less oil would be good for the next try.

My husband and I loooove this dish! I used penne pasta since I can't find any bowtie pasta that is gluten-free. I also add a little red pepper flakes to the chicken and hot chile paste to give the chicken an extra kick. Great recipe!

I cook for 3 people and i halved the pasta and i am glad i did if i would have used the called for amount it would have been to dry taste was ok, very easy to make, i dont think i will be doing this one again

Excellent dish with the following modifications: saute onion and garlic with chicken and chile paste (make sure to use the paste!); add strips of sun-dried tomatoes; add splash of white wine and cream/half & half/whole milk; toss in some toasted pine nuts at the end; and do NOT forget the goat cheese at the end, it makes all the difference. As good as this is hot, it's even better next day cold. This has become a staple recipe and fun to play around with.

Came out OK, nothing great. Will tinker around with recipe and try again. Thanks for sharing:)

My husband and I loved this recipe. I made my own pesto with the magic bullet because prepared pesto tastes too salty to me. I used another reviewer's reco and added sauteed mushrooms. Next time I'll also add sauteed red peppers and zucchini (also previously recommended). We used just a couple drops of hot sauce and it gave the dish a little kick. Thanks again for such a delicious meal!

Love this recipe and so has anyone we have served it to. I had a hard time finding the paste so I substituted roasted jalapenos which I finely chopped.

Wow! Simple and fabulous! I had used andouille sausages that needed to be used, also, I didn't have chili paste, but did use the closest thing which was chili garlic sauce, and poured a bit of cream just to smooth out everything. We also made fresh linguine pasta (AR's basic pasta), so we felt it needed a touch of olive oil before serving. Served this with homemade italian bread (AR)with herbed oil/balsamic dip. Oh yeah, I hate cilantro so I omitted that.

This is a recipe I make once a week! So tasty.