Creamy Avocado Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Ripe avocados blended into a silky no-cook sauce, paired with grilled chicken and pasta for a fresh, protein-rich meal.

# What You Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (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)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat grill pan or outdoor grill over medium-high heat. Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and season with salt and 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 instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
03 - Combine avocados, Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, black pepper, and basil leaves in food processor or blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
04 - Toss hot drained pasta with avocado sauce in large bowl, adding reserved pasta water gradually as needed for silky consistency.
05 - Add sliced grilled chicken to pasta mixture and gently toss to combine.
06 - Divide among plates and garnish with extra basil, Parmesan, lemon zest, or red pepper flakes as desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The no-cook sauce comes together in under 5 minutes while your pasta boils
  • That creamy avocado richness without any actual cream feels almost too good to be true
02 -
  • The sauce will thicken quickly as it sits so always toss it with hot pasta immediately after blending
  • Overripe avocados can make the sauce taste grassy so aim for perfectly ripe fruit with no brown spots
03 -
  • Room temperature avocados blend much smoother than cold ones
  • Adding the lemon juice immediately to the blender prevents any browning
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