Creamy Avocado Chicken Pasta (Printable Version)

Luscious pasta with creamy avocado sauce and grilled chicken, 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 a grill pan or outdoor grill over medium-high heat. Brush chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
02 - Place seasoned chicken on the hot grill and cook for 6 to 7 minutes per side. The chicken is done when juices run clear and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing into thin strips.
03 - Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add spaghetti or linguine and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking water. Drain pasta thoroughly.
04 - While pasta cooks, combine avocados, Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and basil leaves in a food processor or blender. Process until completely smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down sides as needed.
05 - Transfer hot drained pasta to a large mixing bowl. Pour the avocado sauce over the pasta and toss vigorously to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water one tablespoon at a time as needed to achieve a silky, clingy consistency.
06 - Add sliced grilled chicken to the pasta and toss gently to distribute. Divide among 4 serving plates. Garnish with additional fresh basil, grated Parmesan, lemon zest, or red pepper flakes as desired. Serve immediately while warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in minutes and tastes impossibly luxurious
  • Leftovers actually survive until lunch the next day
02 -
  • The sauce tightens up quickly as it sits, so toss everything together right before serving
  • Make sure your avocados are perfectly ripe, underripe ones will never blend into that silky texture you want
03 -
  • If your sauce looks too thick, whisk in more pasta water rather than adding more oil
  • Make the sauce ahead and press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent browning
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