Easiest Pesto Pasta with Garlic Parmesan Bread

easy pesto pasta

I’ve shared a few quarantine meal ideas here and here, but at this point in the game… if it takes more than 30 minutes or can’t be done in a crockpot, I’m not interested.

This pasta dish is incredibly easy, full of flavor and has a two pot cleanup.  Just my style.

Something I’ve started doing is cooking chicken breasts in a crockpot, shredding and keeping in the fridge.  You can use it for anything throughout the week – quesadillas, pasta, sandwiches, etc.

Easy Crockpot Shredded Chicken

1 cup chicken broth (I was out so I actually used 1 cup water and 1TB olive oil)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

4 chicken breasts

Cook on high for 3 hours.  Remove, shred and you’re done.

quarantine dinner idea

Pesto Pasta Ingredients:

1 lb. rigatoni or pasta of your choice

1/2 small onion

2 TB olive oil

1/4 cup pesto – you can always add more!

salt & pepper to taste

sprinkle of parmesan

Optional: chopped fresh basil, pine nuts

Optional: grilled or shredded chicken, grilled or sautéed shrimp

Directions:

Cook pasta al dente.  In a nonstick skillet or pan, saute onions in olive oil at medium-low until translucent (a few minutes).  Add pesto, let simmer while pasta cooks.

Once drained, combine pasta and onion + pesto combo.  Mix in some parmesan cheese, s&p to taste and top with basil.

Garlic Bread Ingredients:

baguette, dinner roll, whatever you have!

garlic – I used 2 cloves for 1/2 loaf, you could use 4 for a full loaf

butter – I used 1.5 TB for 1/2 loaf, you could also use olive oil 

fresh parsley – I used 2 TB for 1/2 loaf

sprinkle of salt

sprinkle of parmesan

Directions:

Mix butter, salt, chopped garlic and parsley together.  Apply to bread and sprinkle with parmesan.  Stick in the oven or toaster oven at 425 for around 5 minutes.

garlic bread recipe

That’s it!  I usually keep some spaghetti noodles and rigatoni in the pantry because when I’m in a pinch, this is a quick and easy dinner that can be on the table in 20-30 minutes.  Another great part about a beginner’s herb garden – you can quickly elevate any meal with some of your fresh herbs.  I almost always have a jar or container of pesto because we use it on pizza and pastas all the time – so easy!

If you have any quick quarantine meals, I’d love to hear!  Thanks so much for reading and you can find more recipes in the “food + drink” category of CBL.  XO –

12 Comments|See Comments

12 thoughts on “Easiest Pesto Pasta with Garlic Parmesan Bread”

  1. If you’ve never done this, it sounds a little crazy…….BUT give it a try. To quickly shred cooked chicken breasts, put them in the bowl of your Kitchen Aid mixer with the paddle attachment. I usually cut the breasts in halves or thirds depending on how I want it to “look”. Ex: for chicken salad I will do thirds. I probably do 4 pieces at the time. Once you try it you will determine what works for you. I promise you’ll never shred chicken by hand again.

    1. I’ve heard people say this before! I don’t keep my kitchenaid on the counter, so it always seems like an ordeal to get it out, BUT I’ve heard people say this is a game changer. Need to try!

  3. I “drag” mine out to do it and freeze it in 1c packages for later. I thought using for chicken salad would be terrible but used it in a pinch and couldn’t tell the difference. Will be using the crockpot next time.

    1. That is good to know! I love it when I think ahead enough to make chicken salad… think I need to add that to this week’s grocery list –

  5. That garlic parmesan bread is making my mouth water! I love recipes like this that are made of things you probably already have on hand; really helpful when trying to be more conscious about how often I’m going shopping

    1. I am so glad to hear that – I feel the SAME way. Like… I don’t mind a long ingredient list if half of it is spices and garlic, or things I already have!

  6. GAH that looks soooooo good! Gonna have to make!While we are in quarantine I have been making all 3 meals everyday at home and need all the ideas i can get! Thanks xo

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