• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Cook's Notebook
  • About
  • Subscribe

Just Maika Cooking

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cook's Notebook
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Cook's Notebook
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home

    Published: Aug 10, 2023 · Modified: Sep 20, 2023 by Maika · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Spicy Pesto Chicken Pasta Homemade One-Pot-Meal

    Quick and easy chicken pesto pasta with crumbled sausage, sauteed mushrooms, fresh sweet peas, spicy basil pesto, garnished with pistachios and Italian cheese blend.

    Quick and easy chicken pesto pasta with crumbled sausage, sauteed mushrooms, fresh sweet peas, and spicy basil pesto, garnished with pistachios and Italian cheese blend.

    Spicy Pesto Chicken Pasta in a round pasta bowl garnished with grated cheese and pistachios

    Easy Dinner Option

    It's a long hectic day, and you are tired but hungry!  Let's solve one with a quick, easy-to-make spicy pesto chicken pasta dish.  In just 30 minutes, this one-pot meal is ready and will definitely leave you satisfied with this warm cheesy pasta.  A combination of fresh ingredients of sweet peas, basil, and pistachios makes each bit interesting for sure.  For this easy recipe, you can make the pesto or use store-bought, but the fact that you made dinner quickly is all that matters.  Enjoy!

    If you are still looking for pasta recipes, try the Jalapeño Pesto and Argentinian Shrimp Pasta, Plant-Based: Italian Sausage with Spicy Creamy Lentil Pasta, Loaded Cheesy Ground Turkey Red Lentil Pasta, and Loaded Lemon Pepper Chicken Pasta recipes.  And if you want to make fresh pesto from scratch, use the Homemade Easy Spicy Basil Pesto recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Easy Dinner Option
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Cooking tip
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Poultry Recipes
    • Video
    • Recipe
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Food safety
    • Have a Comment or Question?
    Spicy Pesto Chicken Pasta in a frying pan.

    Ingredients

    You can make the spicy basil pesto or buy already-made basil pesto.  Then make the pasta, heat the pine nuts, and set them aside.  Saute the onion, garlic, and mushrooms.  Then add and fry the crumbled Italian chicken sausage.  When cooked, finish with sweet peas.  Place up and garnish with pistachios and grated Italian cheese blend.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    labeled ingredients in containers on a round pizza pan for spicy pesto chicken pasta

    Instructions

    a used bag of Trader Joe's Organic Mafalda Corta Pasta Macaroni Product Imported by Italy rolled up for spicy pesto chicken pasta

    I used Trader Joe's Organic Mafalda Corta Pasta to develop this recipe.

    toasted pistachio nuts in a frying pan for spicy pesto chicken pasta

    Heat the pistachios to awaken their flavor by releasing their oils.

    sautéed onions and garlic with raw sliced mushrooms in a frying pan for spicy pesto chicken pasta

    The mushrooms will be covered to steam and then brown in less time.

    crumbled raw Italian chicken sausage with sauted mushrooms and onion for spicy pesto chicken pasta

    The casing is removed to cook down the chicken sausage quickly.

    cooked crumbled Italian chicken sausage, mushrooms and peas in a saute pan for spicy pesto chicken pasta

    Fresh sweet peas take as little as three minutes to cook.

    Spicy Pesto Chicken Pasta in a frying pan.

    Remove from the heat to toss in the warm pasta and pesto.

    Busy Folks - Become a better home cook with tips to help you cook more efficiently on Cook's Notebook tab. 

    Serving Suggestions

    • Toasted Garlic Bread 
    • Light Salad  with Vinaigrette

    Substitutions

    • Macaroni Pasta - Any short type of pasta like farfalle, fusilli, or penne pasta, since the other ingredients are also small to the point you practically can eat it with a spoon. For Vegan, most dried pasta does not contain eggs but always double-check.  For a healthier choice, use whole wheat pasta.  For gluten-free, use lentil pasta.
    • Pistachios - Omit or replace with toasted pine nuts, walnuts, slivered almonds, or sunflower seeds.
    • Cremini Mushrooms - White button, fresh shitake or porcini thinly sliced, and morels.
    • Italian Chicken Sauce - Plant-based (vegan option), beef, or pork; just make sure to drain the excess oil when cooking.
    • Sweet Peas - Sliced asparagus.
    • Italian Cheese Blend - Nutritional Yeast (vegan option), or grated/shredded parmesan cheese.
    • Spicy Pesto - Add ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes to every ¼ cup of store-bought pesto, or use spicy Italian sausage.  Or, like my Jalapeño Pesto and Argentinian Shrimp Pasta, use jalapeno peppers.  You can also easily make the Quick Spicy Basil Pesto by throwing everything in a food processor for homemade pesto.

    Change the recipe's heat level to your liking and learn more about the Scoville Scale and Chili Pairings.

    Variations

    Other Ingredients that will pair well with this recipe -

    • Cherry Tomatoes
    • Red Bell Peppers
    • Sun-dried Tomatoes
    • Baby Spinach
    • Zucchini or Summer Squash
    • Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta - Add creamy goat cheese, cream cheese, or heavy cream for a creamy sauce.
    • Spicy Tomato Basil - Add the tomato sauce and simmer before adding the peas.
    • Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake - As mentioned above, make the Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta.  Put it in a baking dish.  Sprinkle on shredded mozzarella cheese and put back in the oven at 400 degrees until the cheese is slightly golden brown.

    Equipment

    • Medium Pasta Pot - Used to help effortlessly drain the water from the pasta when it's done.  I developed this recipe using the highly-rated multifunctional AVACRAFT Stainless Steel Saucepan with Glass Strainer Lid.  That way, I don't need a colander.  The second best will be the Cuisinart Contour Stainless 6-Quart Pasta Pot that comes in three pieces (i.e., pot, strainer, and lid).
    • Medium Saute Pan with Lid - Used to make the pasta and the lid to steam the mushrooms and sweet peas. When developing this recipe several times, I've always used the All-Clad D3 3-Ply Stainless Steel and Nonstick Surface Fry Pan.  I've trusted these American-made long lasting cookware for years.  And with it, I used the Universal Silicone Glass Lid for Pots, Pans, and Skillets.  It's inexpensive and saves me space in the kitchen.

    Kitchen Must Haves - Find other tools I use here.

    Storage

    • Refrigerator - To store in the fridge, place the pasta in a shallow 2-inch container to cool down quickly. Then store in an airtight container. The meal will last up to three days.
    • Freezer - I do not recommend freezing.

    Cooking tip

    Cooking Pasta - Make sure to use a large pot of lightly salted water to flavor the pasta and to give it enough space to not reduce the water temperature when boiling, to cook at the instructed time for al dente pasta.

    half eaten spicy pesto chicken pasta in a pasta bowl with a spoon

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is in basil pesto sauce?

    Basil pesto is typically made with fresh basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, grated parmesan cheese, and extra virgin oil.

    Pasta Recipes

    Looking for other pasta recipes like this? Try these:

    • italian chicken sausage stuffed portobello mushroom wtih spaghetti smothered in tomato sauce and melted burrata cheese
      Italian Chicken Sausage Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Burrata & Sauce
    • Plant-Based Italian Sausage with Spicy Creamy Lentil Pasta
      Plant-Based: Italian Sausage with Spicy Creamy Lentil Pasta
    • Gnocchi with small chicken chunks, brown sliced mushrooms, spinach and red diced bell pepper in a bowl of yellow curry sauce with sprinkled cheese on top
      Curry Chicken Gnocchi Soup with Spinach and Mushrooms
    • Hoisin mushrooms on top of vegetables in peanut dressing, sliced scallions and vermicelli noodles in a white and blue bowl
      Fresh Hoisin Mushrooms Noodle Bowl with Spicy Peanut Sauce
    See more Pasta →

    Poultry Recipes

    Looking for other poultry recipes like this? Try these:

    • Chicken sweet potato zucchini stew in a tomato base sauce with couscous in a round white pasta bowl on a wooden board
      Spicy Chicken Vegetable Stew with Harissa Tomato Sauce
    • chicken pita with arugula tomato feta cheese salad on top on a round white plate
      Spicy Chicken Pitas with Arugula Feta Pomegranate Salad
    • chicken, green beans, onions, red bell peppers and mushrooms in a pan with hoisin sauce
      Chicken Stir-Fry with Mushrooms, Peppers, and Green Beans in Hoisin Sauce
    • chicken and vegetable spaghetti pasta in black pasta bowl on cutting board
      Loaded Lemon Pepper Chicken Pasta
    See more Poultry →

    Video

    Recipe

    📖 Recipe

    Spicy Pesto Italian Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms and Pistachios

    Quick and easy chicken pesto pasta with crumbled sausage, sauteed mushrooms, fresh sweat peas, spicy basil pesto, garnished with pistachios and Italian cheese blend.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Poultry
    Cuisine Italian, European, Mediterranean, Southwest Europe
    Calories 640.52 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 ounces dry macaroni pasta
    • 2 tablespoons pistachios
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ small onion chopped small
    • 3 garlic cloves chopped small
    • 1 cup cremini mushrooms sliced thin
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 2 Italian chicken sausage links casing removed
    • 1 cup fresh sweet peas
    • ¼ cup spicy pesto
    • 2 teaspoons Italian blend cheese

    Instructions
     

    • Save time in the kitchen: Read the instructions thoroughly, then gather and prep all your ingredients before cooking! Learn Prepping Tips.
    • Boil the Pasta: Bring a medium pasta pot with water and salt to a boil. Cook pasta as recommended on the packaging, but drain the pasta one minute early and set aside. Continue with the recipe while waiting for the water to boil.
    • Heat the Pinenuts: Heat a medium saute pan on medium heat. Heat the pistachios for a couple of seconds (no more than 10) to wake up the flavor of the nuts, remove them and set aside.
    • Make Meat and Vegetable Base: Place the pan back and heat. Then heat the olive oil. Add and saute the onion and garlic, until partially tender.
    • Add cremini mushrooms, combine all well with a pinch of salt, cover with a lid, and sweat for 4 minutes undisturbed. This allows the mushrooms to steam, evaporate excess water, and then brown the mushrooms.
    • Then add the chicken sausage, crumble, incorporate, and fry. When the sausage is cooked, add the sweat peas and combine well. Cover with a lid and cook for 3 minutes undisturbed. This allows the peas to steam.
    • Finish Pasta: Remove the pan from the heat. Uncover, add the pesto and pasta, and combine well.
    • Plate Up: Serve with a garnish of pistachios and grated Italian blend.
    Keyword chicken, pasta, dinner, 30 minute meal, summer, spring, quick, easy, quick and easy, beginner, pollotarian, cheese, stove top, egg-free, saute pan, one pot meal,
    chicken, pasta, dinner, 30 minute meal, summer, spring, quick, easy, quick and easy, beginner, pollotarian, cheese, stove top, egg-free, saute pan, one pot meal,
    Poultry
    Italian, European, Mediterranean, Southwest Europe
    Yield: 2
    Author: Maika Frederic
    Spicy Pesto Italian Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms and Pistachios

    Spicy Pesto Italian Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms and Pistachios

    Quick and easy chicken pesto pasta with crumbled sausage, sauteed mushrooms, fresh sweat peas, spicy basil pesto, garnished with pistachios and Italian cheese blend.
    Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 30 Min

    Ingredients

    Instructions

    Notes

    Substitutions

    Macaroni Pasta - Any short kinds of pasta like farfalle, fusilli, or penne, since the other ingredients, are also small to the point you practically can eat it with a spoon. For Vegan, most dried pasta does not contain eggs but always double-check.

    Pistachios - Omit or replace with toasted pine nuts, walnuts, or slivered almonds.

    Cremini Mushrooms - White button, fresh shitake or porcini thinly sliced, and morels.

    Italian Chicken Sauce - Plant-based (vegan option), beef, or pork; just make sure to drain the excess oil when cooking.

    Sweet Peas - Sliced asparagus.

    Italian Cheese Blend - Nutritional Yeast (vegan option), or grated/shredded parmesan cheese.

    Spicy Pesto - Add ¼ teaspoon of red pepper chili flakes to every ¼ cup of regular basil pesto, or use spicy Italian sausage.


    Storage: Refrigerator

    • To store in the refrigerator, place the pasta in a shallow 2-inch container to cool down quickly.
    • Then store in an airtight container.
    • The meal will last up to three days.

    Storage: Freezer

    • I do not recommend freezing.

    Reheat: Stove Top

    • I suggest heating it slowly in a saucepan on low heat, covering it with a lid with a small amount of broth, and occasionally stirring to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pan. The pesto may not do well when reheating.

    Reheat: Microwave

    • Heat one to two cups in a bowl for two minutes with a small amount of broth and a microwave cover, stirring the dish content every minute until it is hot. The pesto may not do well when reheating.


    Nutrition Facts

    Calories

    640.52

    Fat

    27.81 g

    Sat. Fat

    4.75 g

    Carbs

    63.17 g

    Fiber

    7.82 g

    Net carbs

    55.34 g

    Sugar

    9.58 g

    Protein

    33.93 g

    Sodium

    1470.33 mg

    Cholesterol

    83.47 mg

    These are calculations based on search results of the ingredient's nutritional information.


    https://www.justmaikacooking.com/recipes/chicken-pesto-pasta
    All rights reserved for Just Maika Cooking
    Did you make this recipe?
    Tag @justmaikacooking on instagram and hashtag it #justmaikacooking

    Food safety

    • Cook chicken to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C).
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw meat to prevent food bourne illness from contaminated uncooked meats.
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat to prevent cross-contamination.
    • Don't leave food at room temperature for extended periods; this can breed bacteria.
    • Never leave cooking food unattended to prevent burns and fires.
    • Use oils with a high smoke point to avoid harmful compounds.
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    Have a Comment or Question?

    If you have a question or comment about this recipe, please post it below. You will definitely get a quick response. It also helps our other readers to stay informed. Thanks!

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Quick and easy chicken pesto pasta with crumbled sausage, sauteed mushrooms, fresh sweet peas, spicy basil pesto, garnished with pistachios and Italian cheese blend.
    Author profile picture

    Welcome. I’m Maika, a former professional culinarian for over a decade. I’ve worked for major hotels such as the PGA National Resort, The Ritz-Carlon Hotel Company, Conrad Hilton, and W Hotel. And as a lifetime passionate cook, my blog is about exploring a world of flavors and experimenting with recipes to create restaurant-quality quick and easy dishes that will excite the taste buds.

    More about me →

    popular

    • Strawberries, Banana, Angle Food Cake and Whipped Cream Layered in a Glass Cup
      Strawberry and Banana Shortcake
    • Air Fryer Branzino with Lemon Potatoes and Vegetables
    • Ramen with seafood and shrimp in a decorative blue bowl with a fried egg with black sesame seeds
      Sweet and Spicy Seafood Neoguri with Mushrooms, Spinach, and Fried Egg
    • instant ramen noodles with sliced vegetable and an egg
      Quick and Easy Veggie Ramyeon
    See more popular →

    Pollotarian

    • Spicy Pesto Chicken Pasta in a round pasta bowl garnished with grated cheese and pistachios
      Spicy Pesto Chicken Pasta Homemade One-Pot-Meal
    • spicy basil pesto in glass bowl with a spoon and fresh basil in the background
      Homemade Easy Spicy Basil Pesto
    • Whipped Cottage Cheese stuffed French Omelet on a round white plate with sliced strawberries and toasted sourdough bread
      French Omelet with Whipped Garlic Herbed Cottage Cheese
    • Whipped garlic herbed cottage cheese in a small round glass bowl
      Healthy Whipped Garlic Herbed Cottage Cheese Spread
    See more Pollotarian →

    Vegetarian

    • Peanut butter and caramel swirled chocolate ice cream with chocolate chips in a blue and white designed bowl
      Easy Peanut Chocolate Caramel Candy Bar No-Churn Ice Cream
    • 3 scoops of Mango cookies and cream ice cream in a small bowl with floral decorations.
      Mango Cookies and Cream No-Churn Ice Cream
    • Two birria tacos stuffed with mushrooms and soy chorizo with two wedges of lime, a spoonful of pico de gallo and a white square ramekin of birria sauce all on a round white plate.
      Cheesy Chipotle Mushroom Vegetarian Birria Style Tacos
    • red borscht soup in a black bowl with sour cream in the shape of a heart on top sprinkled with aleppo pepper flakes and topped with a dill leaf.
      Aleppo Pepper Spiced Vegetarian Borscht
    See more Vegetarian →

    Summer

    • tuna avocado salad topped with a poached egg that's split open with yolk dripping out surrounded by diced tomatoes, shredded red cabbage, sliced cucumbers, sliced radishes, sliced celery on a bed of mixed greens.
      Healthy Poached Egg Avocado Rainbow Tuna Salad
    • herbed mashed potatoes topped with a salmon patty topped with sauteed green smothered in red tomato sauce and mushrooms garnished with chopped parsley on a round white plate.
      Smothered Salmon Salisbury Steak with Tomato Mushroom Gravy
    • Air fried sliced chicken breast over hot honey glazed root vegetables on a round white plate
      Air Fryer Chicken Breast with Hot Honey Glazed Vegetables
    • curried lamb jobs on top of chickpea cucumber salad with avocado cream sauce on the bottom
      Curried Air Fryer Lamb Chops with Chickpea Cucumber Salad
    See more Summer →

    Footer

    Quick and easy chicken pesto pasta with crumbled sausage, sauteed mushrooms, fresh sweet peas, spicy basil pesto, garnished with pistachios and Italian cheese blend.

    ↑ back to top

    Helpful Links

    • About
    • Recipes
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclaimer

    Stay Connected

    • Contact
    • Subscribe

    Affiliates

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Just Maika Cooking, a Growth Culinary LLC Company. All Rights Reserved.