Quick & Zesty Pesto Ravioli Chicken Recipe for Dinner Joy

Crafting a delightful pesto ravioli chicken dish brings unexpected joy to weeknight dinners.

Homemade pasta sheets cradle succulent shredded chicken and vibrant herbal notes.

Mediterranean flavors dance across your plate with minimal effort.

Weekends feel special when simple ingredients become something extraordinary.

Creamy pesto coats each delicate pocket, promising rich and comforting bites.

Seasonal herbs and quality proteins make this recipe shine.

You’ll fall in love with how quickly this meal comes together.

One forkful promises pure culinary satisfaction.

Pesto Ravioli Chicken That Feels Fancy With Less Effort

• Quick Weeknight Winner: Demolish dinner in just 15 minutes with this super-fast one-skillet meal that transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality dish.
• Veggie Power Boost: Sneak colorful zucchini and red peppers into a protein-packed meal, making it a nutritious option for families wanting balanced nutrition without complex preparation.
• Flavor-Packed Simplicity: Pesto transforms ordinary chicken and ravioli into a gourmet experience, delivering rich Italian-inspired tastes with minimal cooking skills required.
• Versatile Meal Solution: Easily adaptable recipe allows swapping proteins, vegetables, or ravioli types to match pantry ingredients or dietary preferences, making it perfect for spontaneous cooking.

What You’ll Cook for Pesto Ravioli Chicken

• Chicken: Hearty protein that adds substance to the dish, lean and easily browned.
• Ravioli: Cheese-filled pasta providing additional protein and bulk.

• Zucchini: Fresh vegetable that adds texture and nutrition, light green and mild flavor.
• Red Pepper: Colorful vegetable bringing crunch and sweetness, vibrant and crisp.
• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that enhances overall flavor, pungent and robust.

• Olive Oil: Cooking fat for sautéing and adding rich flavor, smooth and golden.
• Chicken Broth: Liquid base for cooking ravioli, adds depth and moisture.
• Pesto: Herbal sauce providing intense flavor, green and creamy with basil notes.
• Salt: Essential seasoning to enhance dish's taste, helps balance flavors.
• Black Pepper: Spice that adds warmth and slight heat, freshly ground preferred.
• Parmesan Cheese: Grated topping for finishing, sharp and salty.

Pesto Ravioli Chicken Cooking Steps

Step 1: Warm Up the Cooking Surface

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, creating a sizzling base for your culinary adventure.

Step 2: Brown the Chicken

Place chicken into the hot skillet, cooking until it develops a golden-brown exterior.

Once beautifully seared, transfer the chicken to a separate plate.

Step 3: Create a Ravioli Bath

Pour chicken broth into the skillet and add ravioli.

Bring the liquid to a rolling boil, then reduce heat and cover.

Let the ravioli simmer gently for about 4 minutes until perfectly tender.

Step 4: Combine Vibrant Ingredients

• Zucchini
• Red pepper
• Cooked chicken

Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently.

During the final minute, introduce minced garlic to infuse extra flavor.

Ensure vegetables become crisp-tender and chicken is thoroughly cooked.

Step 5: Dress with Pesto

Stir in pesto, coating every morsel of the dish with its herbal, rich essence.

Step 6: Final Touches

Season with salt and pepper to balance the flavors.

Sprinkle freshly grated parmesan cheese over the top.

Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious creation.

Chicken Pasta Tips With Pesto Ravioli Flavor

• Pat chicken dry before cooking to ensure a golden-brown exterior and lock in juicy flavors.
• Add zucchini and red peppers late in cooking to maintain their crisp-tender crunch and vibrant colors.
• Use fresh basil pesto for a more intense, bright taste compared to store-bought versions.
• Watch skillet moisture while cooking to prevent ravioli from becoming soggy or sticking to the pan.
• Swap chicken with shrimp or tofu for a different protein option that complements the pesto sauce.

Reheat and Store Pesto Ravioli Chicken the Right Way

• Store leftover pesto ravioli chicken in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Warm the dish over medium heat, adding a splash of chicken broth to prevent drying, stirring occasionally until heated through completely.
• Place portions in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to ensure even warming.
• Freeze individual portions in sealed containers for up to 2 months, thawing overnight in the refrigerator before reheating for best texture and flavor.

Saucy Sides For Ravioli Chicken

• Pour Crisp White Wine: Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio perfectly complement the herb-rich pesto and cut through the dish's creamy texture with bright, zesty notes.
• Toss Fresh Side Salad: Create a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to balance the richness of the chicken and pesto, adding a refreshing contrast to the warm pasta.
• Serve Crusty Garlic Bread: Warm, toasted Italian bread helps soak up the delicious pesto sauce and provides a crunchy texture that enhances the overall dining experience.
• Select Chilled Citrus Spritzer: A homemade lemon-basil sparkling water cleanses the palate between bites and echoes the herbal flavors in the pesto ravioli.

Tasty Twists on Pesto Ravioli Chicken

• Vegetarian Pesto Ravioli: Replace chicken with plant-based protein like tofu or tempeh, sautéed until golden and crispy.
• Gluten-Free Version: Use gluten-free cheese ravioli and ensure pesto ingredients are gluten-free, perfect for those with wheat sensitivities.
• Low-Carb Adaptation: Swap ravioli with zucchini noodles or cauliflower gnocchi, maintaining the rich pesto flavor while reducing carbohydrate intake.
• Dairy-Free Alternative: Select dairy-free pesto made with nutritional yeast instead of parmesan, and use dairy-free ravioli for those avoiding milk products.

FAQs

• What type of ravioli works best in this recipe?

Fresh or frozen cheese ravioli are ideal. They cook quickly and blend perfectly with the pesto and chicken.

• Can I use a different protein instead of chicken?

Absolutely! Shrimp, turkey, or tofu make excellent substitutes and provide similar protein levels and flavor profiles.

• Is this dish considered healthy?

Yes, it’s relatively balanced. The recipe includes lean protein, vegetables, and provides a good mix of nutrients. The portion of pesto adds flavor without excessive calories.

• How spicy is this dish?

The recipe is mild and kid-friendly. The red pepper and garlic add subtle flavor without significant heat. If you want more spice, you can add red pepper flakes or hot sauce when serving.

Pesto Ravioli Chicken Recipe

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4.6 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Homemade pesto ravioli chicken delivers a perfect Italian-inspired comfort meal that blends rich herbs, tender chicken, and silky pasta. Savory ingredients and simple techniques bring restaurant-quality flavors you can easily recreate in your kitchen.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 1 lb (454 grams) boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into small strips

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 3 small zucchini, cut into 1/4 inch slices
• 1 large red pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 clove garlic, minced

Cooking and Finishing Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) olive oil
• 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) chicken broth
• 1 (9 ounce) (255 grams) package refrigerated cheese ravioli
• 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) purchased basil pesto
• Fresh grated parmesan cheese

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Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature, creating a sizzling cooking surface.
2. Carefully place chicken in the skillet, allowing it to develop a golden-brown exterior for approximately 4 minutes.
3. Transfer browned chicken to a separate plate, keeping it warm and ready for later incorporation.
4. Pour chicken broth into the same skillet and gently add ravioli, bringing the liquid to a rolling boil.
5. Reduce heat, cover the skillet, and allow ravioli to simmer for 4 minutes until pasta reaches a tender consistency.
6. Introduce zucchini, red pepper, and previously cooked chicken into the skillet, increasing heat to medium-high.
7. Stir ingredients continuously for 3 minutes, ensuring vegetables become crisp-tender and chicken is thoroughly heated.
8. During the final minute of cooking, add minced garlic to infuse additional flavor into the dish.
9. Drizzle pesto over the mixture, carefully tossing to ensure every ingredient is evenly coated with the aromatic sauce.
10. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the overall taste profile.
11. Garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve immediately while piping hot.

Notes

• Optimize chicken browning by patting it dry before sautéing to ensure a perfect golden-brown exterior that locks in flavor.
• Choose high-quality refrigerated or fresh ravioli for the best texture and taste, avoiding frozen varieties that might become mushy.
• Cut vegetables into uniform sizes to guarantee even cooking and maintain a consistent crisp-tender texture throughout the dish.
• Adjust pesto quantity based on personal preference, using more for intense herb flavor or less for a lighter coating on the chicken and ravioli.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 370
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 620 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg