Fill a large saucepan with water and bring it to a boil. Add kosher salt (up to 1 tablespoon) to season the pasta. Cook the gluten free penne according to package directions. Place a bowl under the strainer to catch the pasta water.
While the pasta cooks, rinse the spinach, slice the grape tomatoes in half, and separate the mozzarella pearls.
In the same saucepan, after the noodles are done cooking, add the garlic infused olive oil, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, pesto, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. No heat is needed. Stir until the pesto sauce is creamy.
Next, add the drained pasta to the sauce and stir gently until coated with sauce.
Stir in the shredded chicken, spinach, halved tomatoes, and mozzarella pearls. The spinach will wilt slightly, and the mozzarella will soften.
Add about ½ cup of the reserved pasta water and stir again. If it still seems dry, add more pasta water until it’s creamy. Top with shredded Parmesan if desired and serve warm.
Notes
Note 1: If gluten free pasta is not needed, use regular penne noodles. I used Barilla gluten free penne.Note 2: For low FODMAP option, use homemade low FODMAP pesto with fresh basil and walnuts. Note 3: Use leftover shredded chicken, crockpot shredded chicken, or Dutch oven chicken. Or grab a rotisserie chicken.Leftovers: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a splash of broth, cream, or pasta water to loosen the sauce.Dairy Free Option: Swap the heavy cream for canned coconut cream, use dairy free parmesan cheese, and omit the mozzarella pearls. Low FODMAP Notes: Low FODMAP ingredient information is based on the Monash University Food App and FODMAP Friendly App testing results.