Creamy Avocado Chicken Pasta (Printer-friendly)

Ripe avocado blended into a creamy no-cook sauce, tossed with hot pasta and juicy grilled chicken breast.

# What You'll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 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 over 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 6-7 minutes per side until cooked through 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 directions 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, minced 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 a little at a time as needed to achieve silky consistency.
05 - Add sliced grilled chicken to pasta mixture and gently toss to combine. Divide among plates and garnish with fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, or red pepper flakes as desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The avocado sauce creates an incredibly silky texture without any heavy cream, making it feel indulgent while actually being quite light
  • You get a complete meal with protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates all in one bowl, minimal cleanup required
02 -
  • The avocado sauce will start to lose its vibrant green color after about 20 minutes, so serve this immediately and don't plan on leftovers for the next day
  • If your sauce seems too thick or isn't coating the pasta properly, add that pasta water one tablespoon at a time until you reach the right consistency
03 -
  • Reserve more pasta water than you think you need, having extra liquid is always better than a dry sauce
  • If the sauce tastes too rich, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice right before serving brings everything into balance
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