Easy Chicken Pesto Spaghetti
15 minutes
2
Ingredients
- 1 package It's Skinny Spaghetti pasta
- 1 cup shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 cup store-bought pesto sauce
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp fresh lemon zest
5 Minute Low-Carb Chicken Pesto Spaghetti
Looking for the fastest comfort food dinner out there? This chicken pesto spaghetti is semi-homemade and comes together in under 5 minutes! Best of all? It's keto-friendly, low-carb, paleo, and super satisfying.
Sounds too good to be true? Well, with It’s Skinny, we've lightened up a classic chicken pesto and turned it into something you’ll want to put on your regular weeknight dinner rotation.
Get Some Help from Pre-Prepped Ingredients
What's the secret to making keto-friendly dinners during a busy week? Take the shortcuts and help where you can get it. This low-carb chicken recipe is a great example of how you can make a delicious, healthy, low-carb dinner in less than 5 minutes.
Rotisserie chicken is an excellent ingredient to keep on hand. Often, this tender chicken is very affordable, flavorful, and ready-to-go at the grocery store. Pre-cooked chicken makes light work of dinner prep.
Rotisserie chicken is healthy and high in protein. Rotisserie-style cooking leaves meat very moist and flavorful without adding extra fat and calories. These chickens are so delicious and can stretch for 2-3 meals, so definitely keep them on your keto shopping list.
The other shortcut we took with this pesto dish was using store-made basil pesto. Pesto itself is a quick, easy sauce to make. It typically combines fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and pine nuts or another type of nut along with parmesan cheese. Once the green sauce is pureed in a food processor, it becomes a delicious topping for protein and pasta.
But if your local market happens to make their own healthy pesto, it cuts your prep time even further! This stuff is just as good as homemade pesto sauce. Take advantage of the pre-made, keto-friendly sauce when you find it. It makes a great dip for vegetables as well.
Pasta Faster with It’s Skinny
First of all, It’s Skinny is extremely convenient. To use It’s Skinny noodles in your next recipe, you simple open, drain, and add them to the pan with your other ingredients to heat for about three minutes. That’s it.
Unlike traditional pasta, there's no need to boil salted water and wait 10-15 minutes for the pasta to reach the perfect al dente texture…It's Skinny is ready to go!
But where It’s Skinny really shines is with its stats. It’s Skinny has zero net carbs and only 9 calories per pack. It’s gluten-free, plant-based, keto diet and paleo-friendly, and low calorie too. Unlike zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice, spaghetti squash, and other pasta swaps, It's Skinny won't change the taste of your dish. Plus, there are so many varieties to choose from.
Select your favorite pasta style and shape:
The “pastabililties” are endless. Whether you’re following keto or another low-carb diet, you can enjoy all your favorites again with It’s Skinny. Try it in classic dishes like Eggplant Alfredo, Stir-Fried Rice-Shape, or Chicken Noodle Soup.
Can’t decide on a pasta shape to start? Order up a variety pack to get Fettuccine, Spaghetti, Angel Hair, and Rice Shape. Try them all to pick a favorite! Once you see the different ways to make nutritious meals with It’s Skinny, you’ll realize it’s a menu staple!
It’s Skinny gets the impressive stats thanks to an ingredient called Konjac. Konjac noodles (sometimes called Shirataki noodles) are derived from the konjac root—a Japan-native plant that has been used as food and medicine for centuries.
Konjac is particularly helpful for those who are watching their weight and carbohydrate intake. It is high in a special type of fiber, glucomannan, that helps you stay full and satisfied.
With It’s Skinny, there’s no carb boost and crash cycle, like traditional pasta. You won’t feel “heavy” and zoned out after you have a big bowl of It’s Skinny Pasta (but you won’t be hungry either). It’s the perfect balance to satisfy any pasta craving.
What about the taste? As far as pasta goes, It’s Skinny is a perfect plate. It has the ideal texture to complement any pasta recipe. Similar to classic pasta, It’s Skinny takes on the flavors of surrounding ingredients. It’s a great platform for a wide variety of dishes. (Need some ideas? Don’t miss our recipe database)!
In this pesto chicken pasta, It’s Skinny is the perfect low-carb shortcut. It's one of our quickest keto recipes. You can have a yummy, satisfying bowl of pesto chicken pasta in just a few moments with almost no prep. If you’re looking for a fast dinner, this is a great one!
Customizing Pesto Chicken Pasta
Want to make this recipe your own? This is a pretty simple pasta platform for all sorts of recipe variations and additions. If you want some ideas to jazz up your pesto chicken pasta, here are several ways to customize it!
What vegetables go with chicken pesto spaghetti?
Get more vegetables in your diet with this yummy and fast pesto pasta. If you have any leftover vegetables in your fridge, most go perfectly with this dish. Anything that pairs well with Italian flavors would be a great choice—cherry tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, cauliflower, or mushrooms.
You could also steam some veggies to enjoy on the side of this fast pasta dish. Broccoli florets are always an excellent choice. Yellow squash goes well here. Artichokes, spinach, or even sundried tomatoes also partner well with the other flavors.
Can I use a different protein?
No rotisserie chicken? No problem! You can enjoy this dish with any cooked protein like leftover turkey, chicken breasts, or steak. If you use pre-cooked chicken or another protein cut into small bite-sized pieces, the heating time should stay about the same.
This is a great dish to pair with shrimp—which cook very quickly (even from raw). You could also add scallops, salmon, or any seafood you prefer. Pesto is a versatile sauce that plays well with many other ingredients. Feel free to expirement with your options. You could even use cooked mushrooms for a vegetarian spin. Top with some mozzarella cheese, pecorino romano cheese, or any flavorful cheese selection.
Should I stick to It’s Skinny Spaghetti?
Ready to learn a secret? You can use any shape of It’s Skinny in any of our recipes. Don’t limit yourself! Pesto and chicken both go well with Fettuccine, Angel Hair, and Pappardelle. You can use the shapes interchangeably, and they have the same great stats—zero net carbs and only 9 calories per pack.
Want to try something different? Go for It’s Skinny Couscous or Rice-Shape. These smaller shapes are a fun choice to add some texture to your dish. The cooking times and process for prep still remain the same. No matter what shape you choose, you’ll know it’s going to be a delicious meal.
Low Carb Pesto Chicken Pasta with It’s Skinny Spaghetti
If you’re hungry, let’s get cooking! This delicious dinner recipe is ready so fast—it’s the ultimate in speed and convenience. But thanks to our carefully chosen ingredients—quality pesto and rotisserie chicken—there’s plenty of flavor. This is one of those healthy meals that tastes like it took much longer to prepare.
Prefer homemade pesto? We got you! Try our classic Spring Pesto recipe or a more unique Pistachio Pesto recipe.
Nutrition Information
| Nutrition | Amount | Daily Value, % |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 808 | |
| Fat | 65.3 g | 84 |
| Saturated Fat | 14.9 g | 75 |
| Cholesterol | 94.3 mg | 31 |
| Sodium | 1787.3 mg | 78 |
| Fiber | 4.4 g | 16 |
| Sugar | 9.5 g | |
| Protein | 36.4 g | 73 |
Instructions
- Drain and rinse 1 package of It's Skinny Spaghetti. Set it aside.
- Heat 1 cup of pesto sauce in a large skillet over medium heat, and add the shredded chicken. Add your It’s Skinny Spaghetti noodles and stir to combine. Cook for 4-5 minutes until the ingredients heat through.3
- Plate up the Chicken Pesto Spaghetti, top with fresh grated parmesan cheese and lemon zest for some zip! Add salt and black pepper to taste. Dig in and enjoy!
