Easy Pesto Chicken Pasta for Two (Budget Pantry Meal)

This extreme budget pesto chicken pasta for two is one of the easiest pantry dinners you can make. With canned chicken, jarred pesto, and pasta, you can have a warm, satisfying meal on the table in minutes.

You’ll find this recipe in the Budget Comfort Food for Two section of the recipe list.

Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 13 minutes
Servings: 2

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Made with only 3 inexpensive ingredients
Perfect pantry meal for busy nights
Ready in about 15 minutes
Flexible recipe that works with different pasta shapes

Ingredients for Extreme Budget Pesto Chicken Pasta

• 1 (12 oz) can chicken, drained and rinsed
• 1 jar pesto sauce (about 6–8 oz)
• 8 oz pasta (any shape)

Ingredient Notes

Canned chicken
Canned chicken is inexpensive, shelf stable, and makes this a quick pantry meal. Rinsing it removes excess salt.

Pesto sauce
Any jarred pesto works. Store brands are usually the most affordable and taste great in this recipe.

Pasta
Use whatever pasta you have on hand such as penne, rotini, spaghetti, or bow ties.

How to Make Extreme Budget Pesto Chicken Pasta

Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil.
Cook pasta according to package directions until tender. Drain.
Return pasta to the saucepan and stir in the pesto sauce.
Add the drained chicken and stir until everything is evenly coated and heated through.
Serve warm.

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

⭐ Medium saucepan
⭐ Colander
⭐ Silicone Utensils
⭐ Can opener

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Tips

• If the sauce seems thick, stir in 1–2 tablespoons of pasta water.
• A sprinkle of Parmesan cheese adds extra flavor if you have it.
• This recipe is easy to double if cooking for more people.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with:

corn chips
tortilla chips
green salad
steamed green beans

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheat gently in the microwave. Add a small splash of water if needed to loosen the sauce.

Budget Tips

Canned chicken keeps this recipe extremely affordable.
Store brand pesto works just as well as expensive brands.
Use whatever pasta you already have in the pantry.

Estimated total cost: $3–5 for the entire meal

FAQ

Can I use leftover cooked chicken?
Yes. About 1 cup cooked shredded chicken works well.

Can I add vegetables?
Yes. Peas, spinach, or diced tomatoes mix in nicely.

What pasta works best?
Short pasta like penne or rotini holds the pesto sauce well.

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