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Back to school is here! Simplify and speed up your weeknight dinner routine with this one pot pasta dish featuring Barilla Pronto Pasta & Sauces.

One Pot Pasta

Caprese Chicken & Creamy Pesto Parmesan Spaghetti

Ah, September.  Cool crisp morning air, smells of fall, the sound of school buses and in my house- chaos. Once school starts I hardly have a moment to breathe. My daughter is in 8th grade and involved in what feels like, every single activity possible at her school. Last year we were so busy I was rarely home to cook dinner. Drive-thru, fresh made sandwiches and even the occasional convenience store became routine.  Not this year.

After a lot of begging and pleading  family discussion we were able to organize a back to school routine that works for everyone and leaves me time to cook a real dinner at home. My husband will be picking Hannah up from cheering while I cook, but dinner has to be ready when they get home.  That gives me less than 1 hour.

How Barilla Helps

I’ve always preferred Barilla products as our pasta and sauce choice. Barilla is an authentic Italian food brand that offers all natural, quality taste and variety. I often use their tomato sauces, but my favorite is the Barilla Pesto Sauce. The pesto sauce is a combination of Italian herbs that pack a major flavor punch. It can be used right from the jar on sandwiches and bagels or cooked into recipes. Barilla Pronto Pasta makes it east to create a variety of one pot pasta dishes in a short amount of time.

The Barilla Pesto Sauce is a small jar located on the top shelf.

One pot dishes are growing in popularity as more people realize how quickly you can create a full, hearty meal that serves a family in half the time. Barilla Pronto Pasta (voted Better Homes & Gardens Best New Product for 2016!) helps save even more time because there is no pre-boiling or draining required. Barilla Pronto Pasta uses less energy, less water and even comes in a versatile variety of cuts making it easy to use in any dinner recipe. Barilla Pronto Pasta uses the same wheat as in their traditional pasta and is still all natural and non-GMO.

My favorite one pot dish uses the Barilla Half-Cut Spaghetti and Pesto Sauce. The dish is loosely based off my chicken pesto mac and cheese. Instead of using multiple pans and finishing in the oven, this dish is ready in 40 minutes and uses one pan. It is the perfect combination of kid friendly and grown up taste!

The Recipe (full printable recipe card below):

One Pot Pasta- Caprese Chicken & Creamy Pesto Parmesan Spaghetti

Serves 4-6

• 1 jar Barilla Pesto Sauce
• 3 boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 tomato, sliced
• Fresh mozzarella
• Italian blend seasoning
• Salt & Pepper
• Olive Oil
• Barilla Half-Cut Spaghetti
• Butter
• Flour
• Parmesan cheese
• Garlic
• Milk

The chicken: 

Place each chicken thigh between parchment paper, use a meat tenderizer or rolling pin to pound thin.

Brush pesto sauce onto the chicken (to avoid cross contamination- add the sauce to a prep bowl, do not brush from the jar).

Top with a slice of tomato and mozzarella cheese.

Roll the chicken thighs, add to a heated skillet drizzled with Olive oil.  Sear to brown, 3-5 minutes each side.   Remove from pan and let rest.

The Pesto Parmesan sauce:

Melt butter in the same skillet over medium heat, add garlic.

Stir in the flour until cooked out.

Whisk in milk, bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer.  Sauce will begin to thicken.

Add chicken, spaghetti and scoops of Barilla Pesto sauce.

Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often.

Finish with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil!

This recipe is the only way I can get my daughter to eat tomatoes!

My Pesto Parmesan sauce can be used in so many different one pot dishes! Use your imagination and simplify your weeknight cooking routine with Barilla Pronto Pasta & Sauces.

Let us know what your favorite one pot dish is by commenting below!

Or, try one of Barilla’s recipes like this Creamy One Pan Broccoli Cheddar Penne.

Yield: 4 people

One Pot Pasta- Caprese Chicken & Creamy Pesto Parmesan Spaghetti

Print

This one pot dish is sure to wow your friends and family. Boneless skinless chicken stuffed with all the best of caprese!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 jar Barilla Pesto Sauce
• 3 boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 to mato, sliced
• Fresh mozzarella
• 1 teaspoon Italian blend seasoning
• Salt & Pepper
• Olive Oil
• 6 ounces Barilla Half-Cut Spaghetti
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 2 tablespoons Flour
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon minced Garlic
• 2 cups Milk

Instructions

1. Place each chicken thigh between parchment paper, use a meat tenderizer or rolling pin to pound thin.
2. Brush pesto sauce onto the chicken (to avoid cross contamination- add the sauce to a prep bowl, do not brush from the jar).
3. Top with a slice of tomato and mozzarella cheese.
4. Roll the chicken thighs, add to a heated skillet drizzled with Olive oil.
5. Sear to brown, 3-5 minutes each side.
6. Remove from pan and let rest.
7. Melt butter in the same skillet over medium heat, add garlic.
8. Stir in the flour until cooked out.
9. Whisk in milk, bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer. Sauce will begin to thicken
10. Add chicken, spaghetti and scoops of Barilla Pesto sauce.
11. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often.
12. Finish with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 250