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One Pot Chicken Caesar Pesto Pasta: made in no time at all, this one-pot, 35-minute pasta is one you’ll want to make on repeat! Pan-seared chicken, fresh arugula, and basil pesto are tossed with your favorite pasta in a creamy Caesar-Parmesan sauce. Stir in an extra spoonful of pesto and some fresh basil at the end for a simple but seriously delicious meal.
Lately, I’ve been all about sheet-pan dinners, skillet meals, and one-pot pastas—this time of year just seems to call for them. Everyone in my family has been on the go this spring (me included!), and with travel and packed schedules, I still want to keep home-cooked meals a priority…even if I only have 30 minutes to pull them off.
I’ve also been thinking about meals that are easy to make while traveling. I’m hoping to join my family for part of their month-long trip. My mom always books a residence-style hotel room instead of a regular one—it gives us more space and, most importantly, a kitchen to cook in! They love to stay in and make dinner most nights, and so do I.
When I visit, it’s so nice to have a go-to recipe like a one-pot pasta. They’re simple, quick, and perfect for feeding everyone without making a mess.
With warmer days finally in the forecast (New York is full of blooming flowers right now—I just love it!), I’ve been seriously craving Caesar salad. That’s when I had the idea to turn my homemade Caesar dressing into a creamy chicken Caesar pasta.
And let me tell you—it turned out so wonderfully! It’s the kind of dish I know I’ll be making and sharing all year long.
I used arugula for some fresh greens, but feel free to swap in whatever looks best at the market. Spinach or baby kale would be great too!
Here’s to simple dinners that taste like something extra. Hope this one brings a little joy (and a lot of flavor) to your table!
Here are the Details
Ingredients
- salted butter
- chicken breast or thighs
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- paprika
- chili flakes
- basil pesto
- garlic
- Short-cut pasta – I love sedanini pasta or bow-tie for this
- whole milk
- cream cheese
- Caesar dressing – make a homemade Caesar
- parmesan cheese
- arugula – or spinach/kale/whatever you enjoy
- fresh basil and fresh dill
Special Tools
For this recipe, you’ll need a large pot but not much else!
Steps
Step 1: cook the chicken
In a big pot, toss the chicken with butter, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and chili flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Allow the chicken to cook fully and brown around the edges.
Just before the chicken is finished cooking, I like to mix in a few spoonfuls of basil pesto. Now, remove the chicken from the pot.
Step 2: cook the pasta
To that same pot, add a pat of additional butter, then the garlic. Cook just a minute, maybe 2, until the garlic is fragrant and begins to turn golden. I like it when the butter starts to brown a bit too!
Okay, now is when you will mix in the pasta. Add water and cook until the pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes. Add salt and stir often to ensure the pasta does not stick. If you do not stir often, the pasta tends to get stuck on the bottom of the pot.
Step 3: add milk and the caesar dressing.
Next, mix in the milk, Caesar dressing, and parmesan. Stir until the pasta is fully cooked and the sauce is creamy.
Slide the chicken back into the pasta. Add lots of fresh greens—I really like arugula. Then add the lemon juice and give it a stir.
Now, serve this up with freshly grated Parmesan and basil! It’s so quick and yummy! And while I know it’s different, the Caesar dressing is just delish when mixed with the pasta. It’s very Alfredo-like.
Looking for other one-pot recipes? Here are my favorites:
French Onion Pasta with Crispy Prosciutto
One Skillet White Chicken Chili Bake
Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
Lastly, if you make this One Pot Chicken Caesar Pesto Pasta, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
One Pot Chicken Caesar Pesto Pasta
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 552 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 pound boneless chicken breasts or thighs, cubed
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- salt, pepper, and chili flakes
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 pound short cut pasta
- 1/2 cup fresh chopped basil
- 2 tablespoon fresh chopped dill or parsley
- 2 cups milk
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup Caesar dressing
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2-3 cups arugula or baby spinach
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- 1. In a large pot set over medium-high heat, cook 1 tablespoon of butter with the chicken, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Cook for 5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Toss with 3 tablespoons of basil pesto. Scoop the chicken out of the pot and set aside.2. Add the garlic and a tablespoon of butter. Cook for 1 minute, until golden. Add the pasta and 2 cups of water. Cook, stirring often, until the pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes. Stir in the milk, cream cheese, Caesar dressing, the remaining pesto, and parmesan. Mix until creamy.3. Slide the chicken back in, add the arugula and lemon juice, and mix them into the pasta.4. Serve the pasta immediately with fresh parmesan and basil. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on April 17, 2025
Can you please adjust the instructions to include the dill/parsley? Multiple people have pointed out the mistake in the comments already. I shouldn’t have to scroll through comments to figure out the answer. Love you still girl!
Hi Halle,
Yes, it’s just used as garnish with the basil:) I hope you love this dish!
Is it possible that the pasta is cooked with the milk and the water? Love your recipes but a point a pasta with two cups of water was difficult
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for giving this recipe a try! I only cook the pasta in the water, make sure to stir a lot while cooking, that helps!
There’s no way to cook this as directed without burning all the spices. A whole tablespoon of onion powder in butter while cooking the chicken will burn every time. Should add the spices after the chicken is cooked, and just salt the chicken to cook it.
Hey Adam,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, sorry to hear it was not enjoyed!
Do you have a homemade Cesear dressing recipe?
Hi Julie! Yes, I do! Here’s the recipe! https://fett-weg.today/essentials/#dressings_sauces%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Delicious! Made this a few times and it’s fantastic every time. A new family favorite.
Thanks so much Elissa! So glad you and your family are enjoying this recipe! Have an amazing week! 🙂 xT
I’m not sure what happened to mine. I ended up having to use about 5 cups of water and it took forever to get my pasta to cook. However, I was really happy with the overall dish! It’s so good. I’d make it again!
Hi there! I am so glad you enjoyed this pasta, thanks for giving it a try! xT
This was delicious, an interesting and creative combination of flavors. Based on other comments, I used 3 cups of water for the pasta, which was just enough to cook it completely. Definitely one I’ll be making again!
Thanks so much Helen! 🙂 xT
We loved this! Easy and yummy, the best combo.
Hey Kellie,
Happy Tuesday!! I’m so glad to hear this recipe turned out nicely for you, thanks a lot for making it!
This was delicious! My friends loved it. I used chicken sausage instead of chicken breasts which added a nice flavor. Thank you for another fantastic recipe!
Hi Jacki,
Happy Monday!! Thanks a bunch for your comment and making this recipe, love to hear it was a hit!☀️
Where do you add the dill or parsley? Sorry I didn’t see it in the recipe instructions.
Hi there,
Sorry about that! You can add in step 4 for serving. I hope you love this dish! xx
This looks delicious! Quick question: Do you add the basil and dill with the arugula? Or do you not incorporate any basil in the recipe and simply sprinkle it over the top to serve? Looking forward to making this!
Hey Stacy,
I just sprinkle the basil overtop for serving:) I hope you love this dish, please let me know if you give it a try! xxT
This was delicious! Even my picky son loved it. I ended up using basil pesto hummus instead of pesto because my son has nut allergies and I was too lazy to make my own. Also, I used gluten free pasta and it worked great! Keeping this recipe in the rotation
Hey Amy,
Happy Sunday! So glad to hear this recipe turned out nicely for you! I appreciate you making it and your feedback! xx