Creamy Avocado Pasta (with Chicken)

Why we love this creamy avocado pasta?

Who likes to labor over a hot stove all summer? I certainly don't! This creamy avocado pasta is the perfect quick, easy, and healthy recipe that requires little *actual* cooking... And is absolutely delicious and filling!

Simply boil your pasta, blend up the tangy and refreshing sauce, then toss everything together with chopped precooked chicken. Then choose if you'd like to serve immediately while warm, or chill in the fridge for a cold pasta salad dish.

Either way - served cold or warm, in only about 20 minutes you are ready to enjoy a super satisfying lunch or dinner!

Although the sauce is rich and flavorful, you might be surprised to find there is no heavy cream or butter here. Just heart-healthy avocado and extra virgin olive oil brimming with good fats

Plus, lemon juice and fresh herbs is loaded with lots of beneficial antioxidants and vitamins. Paired with pasta it has a great balance of good/good for you!

Speaking of, what I really love about the recipe is how easy it is to customize! Swap regular noodles with whole wheat or gluten-free pasta - or even toss with zucchini or carrot noodles for a low carb option.

You can also skip the chicken and sub parmesan with nutritional yeast (or leave out altogether) to instantly make this a terrific vegan dish. Make the recipe once and I'm sure you'll enjoy making it again and again with different variations all season long!

*For more nutritious and satisfying main dishes, also try these great recipes:

• Caprese Skewers
• Tomato Avocado Corn Salad
• Tomato Spinach Pasta
• Chicken Broccoli Pasta
• Kale Salad with Chickpeas and Tahini

Ingredients you will need

• Uncooked Pasta: Use your choice of pasta noodles. Here we use penne, but other hearty noodles like bowtie, elbow, fusilli, or cavatappi.
• Chicken Breasts: Cooked and cubed.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Optional for a delicious kick of spicy heat.
• Avocado: Choose a fruit that is ripe and unblemished.
• Basil Leaves and Parsley: These fresh herbs brighten up the creamy sauce.
• Scallions: Adds a pleasantly spicy, grassy flavor that compliments the avocado.
• Garlic: Whole cloves, there is no need to mince.
• Lemon Juice: The bright, tangy juice will add a sweet and tart flavor while also keeping the avocado sauce from browning.
• Parmesan Cheese: Pre-shredded packaged cheese often contains extra fillers for freshness. I therefore suggest freshly grating the cheese yourself.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: You are really able to taste the EVOO in this no-cook sauce. So choose a brand of high quality!
• Salt and Pepper: Add a bit of both to taste to finish the dish.
• Plus you can add other veggies you like to the dish! Mix in or top the finished pasta with fresh or roasted cherry tomatoes, zucchini slices, chopped asparagus, or sun-dried tomatoes.

How to make pasta with avocado sauce?

Cook Pasta

1. Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water (or according to package instructions) until al dente.

2. Reserve some pasta water(¾-1 cup) and set it aside. Drain the pasta well and keep it aside.

Make Avocado Sauce for Pasta

3. Cut avocado in half and remove the seed. Scoop out the avocado flesh and place it the food processor.

4. Add fresh basil, parsley, scallion, garlic cloves, lemon juice grated parmesan, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and pepper.

5. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust the salt, pepper or seasoning of your choice, if needed. If the sauce seems too thick for your choice, feel free to add little milk or pasta water, if desired.

Assemble

6. Place drained noodles in a large mixing bowl.

7. Add the sauce, cooked chicken breasts, red pepper flakes and reserved pasta water.

8. Toss well to coat.

Expert Tips

• Use ripe avocado. A perfectly ripened avocado will make the most creamy and delicious avocado sauce pasta. Choose a fruit that is dark green/dark purple on the outside (but not black) and is ever so slightly soft when you give a gentle squeeze. Also, be sure to cut it only when your are ready to make the sauce.
• Adjust the sauce consistency to your liking. As-is the creamy avocado pasta sauce is quite thick and rich. If you prefer a more loose sauce, you can add a splash of milk or pasta water as you combine all of the recipe ingredients.
• Toss pasta with sauce while still warm. The sauce will cling perfectly to the pasta when it still has some heat.
• Avoid reheating. Truly this dish is best to enjoy freshly made. While reheating is possible, it will likely change the taste of the avocado.

Serving Suggestions

Sprinkle some more grated parmesan, red pepper flakes and serve with rocket leaves, roasted cherry tomatoes and toasted bread on side.

Whether you enjoy chilled or hot, creamy avocado pasta is great to pair with a fresh salad! Try any of these easy Italian-inspired recipes:

• Classic Caprese Salad
• Arugula Salad (Rocket Salad)
• Tomato Mozzarella Salad
• Tomato Basil Salad

If you prefer to serve hot, you might consider adding other comforting warm dishes to the table. Recipes like Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes, Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic Parmesan, and Roasted Asparagus are delicious and healthy!

Storage

To store leftovers: Transfer the cooled leftovers in a sealed container and keep stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Do not freeze as avocado sauce pasta will not hold up well to freezing.

To reheat: I suggest serving the pasta cold once it has been refrigerated. Reheating the dish will change the flavor of the otherwise raw avocado sauce.

However, if you prefer the pasta warm, you can reheat it in short 30 second bursts in the microwave at 50% power. If the noodles and sauce are a bit too dry, add a splash of warm water or milk to loosen everything up a bit.