

Kale Pesto Pappardelle with Chicken Meatballs
Recipe by Cooking for Keeps.
The Weeknight Pasta That Tastes Like You Tried
This Kale Pesto Pappardelle comes together faster than you’d expect. A five-ingredient pesto made from kale, basil, pistachios, Parmesan, and lemon gets blended while the pasta cooks, then tossed with wide pappardelle noodles and Jones Dairy Farm No Antibiotics Ever Chicken Meatballs. It’s bright, hearty, and the kind of dinner that feels special without being fussy.
Ingredients
- 24 Jones Dairy Farm No Antibiotics Ever Chicken Meatballs
- 3 cups chopped packed kale, massaged and stems removed
- 1 cup basil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 large garlic clove
- 1/4 cup pistachios
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 16 ounces pappardelle pasta
- 1/2 cup pasta water
- extra parmesan, for sprinkling
Directions
Fill a large pot with 1/2 cup of water. Add frozen chicken meatballs. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 9 minutes. Remove meatballs from the pot and drain water. Set aside.
Fill pot with water. Bring to a rolling boil. Season with salt.
While the water comes to a boil, add the kale, basil, parmesan, lemon juice, garlic, pistachios, and salt to a food processor. Blend until smooth. With the mixer on drizzle in the oil. Scrape the sides downs and blend again until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
When the water comes to a boil, drop the pasta into the water. Cook until just under al dente.
When the pasta has cooked, use a liquid measuring cup to take out 1 cup of the pasta water. Set aside. Drain the pasta.
Add the pasta back to the pot along with the pesto and 1/2 cup of pasta water. Use tongs to toss the pasta with the pesto. Add the meatballs. Toss again. If needed add more pasta water to loosen the sauce up. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with parmesan cheese.

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