Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta

Name: Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; Kosher salt; Black pepper; 8 ounces penne pasta, preferably with ridges; 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, plus more for serving if you like; 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes, drained if packed in oil; 1/2 cup basil pesto, homemade or quality store-bought, plus more if you like; 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes; Handful of torn basil leaves, for garnish

A 20-minute date-night pasta. Golden chicken and a silky basil-pesto cream sauce coat penne, with sun-dried tomatoes for a sweet-savory pop. It feels indulgent and sits squarely in the medium band at GL 12.5.

Glycemic Load: 12.5 (Medium)

433 calories per serving

Serves: 6

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 10 minutes

About This Calculation

Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta has a medium glycemic load of 12.5 per serving — moderate blood sugar impact — portion size and meal composition matter.

The primary glycemic load contributors are penne pasta (GL 12.0), sun dried tomatoes (GL 0.3), heavy cream (GL 0.1). These ingredients account for the majority of the carbohydrate impact per serving.

Glycemic load is calculated as GL = (GI × Net Carbs per serving) ÷ 100, where GI is the glycemic index and net carbs exclude dietary fiber. Calculations draw on established nutritional references including USDA FoodData Central values and peer-reviewed glycemic index research.