Pesto pasta with crispy chicken has become one of my favorite meal prep combinations because it feels a little more exciting than my usual pasta lunches without adding much extra work. While the chicken gets crispy in the air fryer, I can make the pesto and cook the pasta, so everything is ready in about 30 minutes.<\/p>\n
I especially love making this recipe during basil season, when gardens and farmers\u2019 markets seem to have more basil than anyone knows what to do with. If I have fresh basil, I\u2019ll absolutely make homemade pesto. But if I don\u2019t have the time, or simply don\u2019t feel like washing and blending herbs, I happily use a good store-bought pesto instead. Meal prep should make life easier, not create another project.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve got everything you need to make meal prep EASY.<\/strong>\u00a0Join the Workweek Lunch Meal Prep Program and get our weekly meal plans, meal planning tools, grocery list generator, and more.\u00a0Start a free trial today!<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n This is one of those recipes that checks a lot of boxes for me.<\/p>\n The crispy chicken holds up surprisingly well after reheating, the pesto keeps the pasta from drying out, and the Caprese salad makes the meal feel fresh without requiring much extra effort.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve also found it\u2019s a great \u201cbridge\u201d recipe for people who are new to meal<\/a> prep. Nothing about it is complicated, but when everything comes together it feels like something you\u2019d order at a caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n Fresh homemade pesto is hard to beat when basil is in season, but I never hesitate to buy pesto when I need a shortcut.<\/p>\n One thing I\u2019ve learned after years of meal prepping is that convenience ingredients are worth using when they help you actually follow through with your plan. A store-bought pesto you use is far better than homemade pesto you never have time to make.<\/p>\n This recipe isn\u2019t tied to one specific pasta shape.<\/p>\n I make it with penne most often because it holds onto the pesto well, but rotini, fusilli, bowties, spaghetti, gluten-free pasta, or even zucchini noodles all work. If you\u2019re trying to use up what you already have in the pantry, this recipe is incredibly forgiving.<\/p>\n I love using the air fryer because it cooks the chicken quickly and gives it a crispy coating without heating up the whole kitchen.<\/p>\n That said, if you don\u2019t own one, don\u2019t let that stop you. This recipe works beautifully in a conventional oven, too.<\/p>\n One of my favorite parts of this meal prep<\/a> is that several things happen at once.<\/p>\n While the chicken cooks in the air fryer, I cook the pasta and blend together the pesto. By the time the chicken is finished, everything else is usually ready to assemble.<\/p>\n To make the chicken, I coat bite-sized chicken pieces in egg and seasoned breadcrumbs before air frying them at 400\u00b0F for 15\u201320 minutes, or baking them in the oven if that\u2019s what I\u2019m using that day.<\/p>\n For the pesto, I blend olive oil, Parmesan, fresh basil, garlic, and sea salt until smooth. Once the pasta is cooked, I toss everything together over low heat until the pesto coats every piece.<\/p>\n The Caprese salad couldn\u2019t be easier. I simply combine cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, fresh basil, olive oil, and red wine vinegar, then portion everything into meal prep containers<\/a> alongside the pasta and crispy chicken.<\/p>\n This recipe stores really well, with one small exception.<\/p>\n The chicken and pesto pasta stay fresh in airtight containers for about 4 days in the refrigerator, while the Caprese salad is at its best within the first 2\u20133 days. After that, the tomatoes begin releasing more liquid and the fresh basil loses some of its texture.<\/p>\n If I know I\u2019m meal prepping<\/a> for a full workweek, I\u2019ll sometimes make only half of the Caprese salad upfront and mix together the second batch a few days later. It only takes a couple of minutes, but it keeps everything tasting fresh.<\/p>\n The chicken and pasta also freeze well for up to 3 months. I usually freeze those portions separately from the salad, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. If the pesto pasta seems a little dry after reheating, adding a small splash of water helps loosen the sauce again.<\/p>\n One thing I\u2019ve learned after years of meal prepping is that recipes don\u2019t have to be complicated to feel satisfying. Sometimes it\u2019s simply combining a few familiar ingredients in a way that makes lunch something you actually look forward to eating.<\/p>\n I also don\u2019t think every shortcut is worth avoiding. Store-bought pesto, pre-shredded Parmesan, or even pre-cut chicken can absolutely have a place in your kitchen if they help you get dinner\u2014or lunch\u2014on the table. Meal prep<\/a> isn\u2019t about doing everything from scratch; it\u2019s about making future you\u2019s week a little easier.<\/p>\n Author: <\/span>Nick Quintero<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/workweeklunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Pesto-Palmini-Noodles-with-Crispy-Chicken-Bites-Multi-Container-769x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWhy I Keep Coming Back to This Recipe<\/h2>\n
My Best Tips Before You Start<\/h2>\n
Homemade or Store-Bought Pesto? Both Work.<\/h3>\n
Any Pasta Works<\/h3>\n
The Air Fryer Makes This Easy<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/workweeklunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Pesto-Palmini-Noodles-with-Crispy-Chicken-Bites-Process-1-769x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nHow I Make This Recipe<\/h2>\n
Storage & Meal Prep Tips<\/h2>\n
A WWL Perspective<\/h2>\n
Love chicken, pesto, and the air fryer? Try these recipes<\/h2>\n
![\"pesto](\"https:\/\/workweeklunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Pesto-Palmini-Noodles-with-Crispy-Chicken-Bites-Single-Container-500x500.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAir Fryer Pesto Pasta with Crispy Chicken<\/h2>\n