PESTO CHICKEN BAKE

This creamy basil pesto chicken bake is beautifully aromatic and deeply-delicious. The chicken is tender and juicy with incredible flavor.

Assembled on stovetop then baked until done, it’s a 35-minute recipe. It’s a comforting, satisfying dinner for hungry families. Serve this entree over thin pasta, zucchini noodles, mashed potatoes, or cauliflower rice.

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pesto chicken bake ingredients

This recipes features lean chicken breasts baked in a creamy basil pesto. It’s a restaurant-quality meal made with simple ingredients that are easy to find at the market.

• Chicken breasts or thighs, boneless/skinless
• Sea salt
• Black pepper, freshly-ground
• Virgin olive oil
• Heavy whipping cream
• Butter
• Garlic powder
• Basil pesto, homemade or store-bought
• Grated parmesan cheese
• Cherry tomatoes
• Pitted Kalamata olives
• Non-pareil capers
• Fresh basil leaves, for garnishing

ESSENTIAL KITCHEN TOOL FOR COOKING POULTRY

When cooking meat and poultry, like this pesto chicken bake, it’s essential to have an accurate instant-read thermometer.

I have two Thermapen professional thermometers, one for each of my kitchens. It’s how I make sure my chicken and meat recipes are cooked to temperature, and safe to eat and serve to family and friends.

KITCHEN SMARTS: Bookmark this page from the USDA. It’s a chart that provides helpful information on minimum temperatures for safe consumption of chicken, meat, and fish and more.

pesto chicken recipe

For busy parents, getting a hot dinner on the table can be a daily struggle. There’s just not enough time in the day for spending hours in the kitchen cooking or baking. In my house, this quick easy recipe is a real lifesaver.

Here’s how to to assemble pesto chicken:

• STEP 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Rinse chicken. Pat the pieces dry between paper towels. Season all sides with salt and pepper.
• STEP 2: In a large cast-iron skillet, warm olive oil over medium heat.
• STEP 3: Sear chicken 4 minutes on each side until golden brown, then remove pan from heat.
• STEP 4: While chicken is searing, warm cream and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Do not allow liquid to boil.

BASIL PESTO CHICKEN

When using the freshest ingredients, this pesto chicken bake is a great make-ahead recipe! It can be assembled and baked 1 to 2 days in advance. Cool and refrigerate in an air-tight container.

Continue following these easy recipe instructions:

• STEP 5: Add a pinch of garlic powder and pinch of salt to the warm cream-and-butter mixture. Stir in the basil pesto.
• STEP 6: Grate parmesan cheese directly over the pan of creamy pesto. With a wooden spoon, stir briefly until cheese is melted.
• STEP 7: Sprinkle cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and capers over the chicken in the cast-iron skillet.
• STEP 8: Pour the creamy pesto sauce over the chicken. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, or until poultry is done. The internal temperature of baked chicken should be 165°F in the thickest part. Once out of the oven, garnish this dish with hand-torn basil leaves.

EXPERT TIPS FOR RECIPE SUCCESS

• BEST SUBSTITUTES FOR HEAVY CREAM: Half-and-half or evaporated milk.
• DELICIOUS ADD-INS: Try marinated artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, or feta cheese.
• HOW TO STRETCH THIS RECIPE TO FEED MORE PEOPLE: Once baking is done, transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Slice up the breasts. Return them to the pan to get covered in sauce. Divide the entree equally between the number of diners.
• HOW TO SERVE BASIL PESTO CHICKEN: Serve over a base of thin pasta, mashed potatoes, jasmine rice, cauliflower, cooked zucchini noodles, etc.

HOW TO GET THIS DINNER ON THE TABLE FASTER

These are simple ways to get this delicious pesto chicken bake on the table quicker. Less time cooking in the kitchen means more quality time you can spend with your family!

• USE THINNER, FLATTER CHICKEN BREASTS. Thinner fillets will cook quicker than thicker pieces.
• GRATED PARMESAN FROM THE DELI: Rather than grating the cheese at home, buy pre-grated parmesan from the deli.
• MULTI-TASK IN THE KITCHEN: Prep the base (pasta, potatoes, veggies, or rice) while the poultry is baking.

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MORE EASY DINNER RECIPES

I love sharing flavorful recipes that are easy to make. If you enjoyed this savory pesto chicken bake, you’ll also appreciate these time-tested favorites. Refresh your monthly meal plan now!

• CHICKEN PICCATA
• MINESTRONE SOUP
• STEAK FAJITAS
• BAKED ZITI
• SWEDISH MEATBALLS

PESTO CHICKEN BAKE > RATE THIS RECIPE! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My family says this is the best pesto chicken recipe! If you agree, give this chicken dinner a 5-star rating in the comments.

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