Pesto Chicken
Pesto Chicken is a delicious and easy dish that combines juicy chicken breasts with vibrant pesto sauce, perfect for dinner or meal prep.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, pounded to ¾-inch thickness
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- to taste salt and pepper
For the Pesto Sauce
- 0.5 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup packed basil
- 1 cup packed baby spinach
- 3 cloves unpeeled garlic
- 0.25 cup walnuts (plus more for garnish)
- 0.25 cup grated parmesan cheese (plus more for garnish)
For Serving
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Season the chicken breasts with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Make the Pesto
- In a food processor, combine basil, baby spinach, garlic, walnuts, kosher salt, and black pepper.
- Pulse until combined.
- Slowly add the extra-virgin olive oil while blending until smooth.
- Stir in the grated parmesan cheese.
Cook the Chicken
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the seasoned chicken for about 5-7 minutes per side, until browned.
- Spread the pesto mixture over the chicken and allow it to bake in the oven for around 15-20 minutes until fully cooked.
Serve
- Serve the chicken hot, topped with diced tomatoes and extra parmesan cheese. Garnish with additional walnuts if desired.
Notes
To store leftover Pesto Chicken, let it cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it for up to 2 months.