Creamy Avocado Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Silky avocado sauce tossed with pasta and juicy grilled chicken. A fresh, nourishing meal ready in 35 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 14 oz)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Pasta

05 - 12 oz dried spaghetti or linguine

→ Avocado Sauce

06 - 2 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
07 - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
08 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
10 - 1 clove garlic, minced
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
13 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish

→ Garnishes

14 - Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
15 - Lemon zest (optional)
16 - Red pepper flakes (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat grill pan or outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Brush chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Grill for 6 to 7 minutes per side until fully cooked and juices run clear. Transfer to plate and rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
02 - Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain thoroughly.
03 - In food processor or blender, combine avocados, Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, black pepper, and basil leaves. Blend until smooth and creamy.
04 - In large bowl, toss hot drained pasta with avocado sauce, adding reserved pasta water gradually as needed to achieve silky consistency.
05 - Add sliced grilled chicken to pasta mixture and gently toss to combine. Divide among serving plates and garnish with fresh basil, Parmesan, lemon zest, or red pepper flakes as desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in literally three minutes and tastes like something from a restaurant that charges twenty dollars for pasta
  • Its the rare creamy pasta that actually leaves you feeling energized instead of weighed down
  • The way the hot pasta slightly warms the avocado sauce creates this incredible velvety texture
02 -
  • The avocado sauce can turn brown if left sitting too long, so make it right before you toss it with the hot pasta for the best color
  • If the sauce seems too thick, that pasta water is your friend, add it gradually until you reach the perfect consistency
  • This dish needs to be eaten immediately because the sauce does not reheat well and the texture changes as it sits
03 -
  • Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce if you want some gentle warmth that builds as you eat
  • Extra lemon zest right before serving makes everything pop and smell incredible
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