Pesto Chicken Pasta
Dairy-FreeNut-FreeNo Pork
Pesto made with sunflower seeds instead of pine nuts — safe for Izzy, delicious for everyone.
⏱ Prep: 15 min🍳 Cook: 20 min👥 Serves: 4
Ingredients
Nut-Free Pesto
- •2 cups fresh basil leaves
- •3 tbsp sunflower seeds (NOT pine nuts)
- •3 cloves garlic
- •4 tbsp olive oil
- •2 tbsp lemon juice
- •Salt and pepper
- •Optional: 2 tbsp nutritional yeast for cheesy flavour
Pasta
- •400g pasta (penne or spaghetti)
- •600g chicken breast, diced
- •250g cherry tomatoes, halved
- •100g baby spinach
- •2 tbsp olive oil
- •Salt and pepper
Method
1
Blend basil, sunflower seeds, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice and salt until smooth. Adjust seasoning.
2
Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
3
Season chicken and cook in olive oil over high heat until golden, about 8 minutes.
4
Halve cherry tomatoes.
5
Toss hot pasta with pesto, adding a splash of pasta water to loosen.
6
Add chicken, cherry tomatoes and spinach. Toss until spinach wilts.
7
Season to taste and serve immediately.
⚠️ Allergy reminder
All recipes are free of peanuts and pine nuts (Izzy's allergy), dairy, and pork. Always check ingredient labels.