Pesto Chicken is one of those dishes that elevates a simple chicken meal into something truly special. The rich, aromatic flavors of fresh basil pesto coat tender, juicy chicken, creating a perfect balance of savory, herbaceous goodness. Whether you’re making it for a quick weeknight dinner or for a more sophisticated meal, pesto chicken is a versatile, crowd-pleasing dish that never disappoints.
What makes pesto chicken so irresistible is the pesto itself. Made with fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan, and olive oil, pesto is a vibrant sauce that adds depth and brightness to any dish. When used to coat chicken, the pesto infuses the meat with its rich, herbaceous flavor while keeping the chicken moist and tender. It’s the perfect pairing: the freshness of the basil complements the savory richness of the chicken, and the garlic and Parmesan give the dish a bold, satisfying punch.
The beauty of pesto chicken lies in its simplicity. With just a handful of ingredients, it comes together quickly and easily. You can choose to grill, bake, or pan-sear the chicken, depending on your preference and the tools you have available. Once the chicken is cooked, it’s simply topped with pesto sauce, creating a meal that feels fresh, indulgent, and satisfying in no time.
Pesto chicken is also incredibly adaptable. You can serve it with a variety of sides, such as roasted vegetables, a fresh salad, or pasta. You can even slice the chicken and add it to a sandwich or wrap, making it a perfect option for meal prep or lunches. For those who want a bit more richness, a sprinkle of mozzarella or a drizzle of balsamic glaze can take the dish to the next level.
What’s great about pesto chicken is that it’s not just for chicken breasts. You can use thighs, drumsticks, or even chicken tenders. You can make it as a main course or slice it into smaller pieces for a salad topping or pasta addition. It’s a dish that can fit into any meal plan, from quick dinners to more leisurely meals when you want something that feels both easy and impressive.
In short, pesto chicken is a flavorful, vibrant dish that brings the best of fresh ingredients together in one simple, satisfying meal. Whether you’re a fan of classic Italian flavors or just looking for a delicious way to cook chicken, pesto chicken is sure to become a new favorite in your recipe rotation.
Ingredients
- 4 pieces chicken breasts Boneless and skinless
- 1/2 cup pesto sauce Homemade or store-bought
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes Halved
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese Grated
- 2 tablespoons olive oil Extra virgin
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and black pepper on both sides.
- In a large oven-safe skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken breasts to the skillet and sear until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and spread the pesto sauce evenly over the chicken breasts.
- Scatter the halved cherry tomatoes around the chicken in the skillet.
- Sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese on top of the chicken.
- Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
- Remove the skillet from the oven and let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve the pesto chicken with the roasted cherry tomatoes and your choice of side dish.
Nutrition
Superb! Didn’t have cherry tomatoes so used normal ones and it still rocked! Yummy 😋
Really easy to make, but I thought it was a bit bland. Needs some spices or something.
Not the best pesto chicken I’ve tried. I think I prefer it grilled instead.
This was so easy to make and tasted amazing! My family loved it! 5 stars!
I’m so glad to hear your family loved it! I made this last week too, and it was a hit! Definitely a new favorite in our house. 😍
Too salty for my taste, but the flavor is nice overall.
Okay, so I made this for dinner and wow. Just wow. So good! Highly recommend!
I’m glad you loved it! I always add some garlic to the pesto for extra flavor. Anyone else do that?
I didn’t have parmesan, used cheddar instead. Still good!
Cheddar is a great substitute! Glad to hear it turned out well. Sometimes it’s fun to mix things up! 😊
Is this even real chicken? 😂 Mine was like cardboard. I musta did something wrong.
Maybe you forgot to add the olive oil? That can make a big difference!
This sounds fancy but it’s pretty simple. I’m not a cook but I can do this!
Fancy? I don’t know, just looks like fancy chicken to me. But hey, if you say it’s easy, I might just give it a shot.
I totally agree! It looks gourmet but seems easy enough for anyone to try. Can’t wait to make this!
I used jarred pesto. Can I still call it homemade? 🤔
It was ok, but my chicken came out dry. Maybe I left it too long?
This was delicious! The pesto gave the chicken a great flavor. Will make again!
I totally agree! The pesto really adds something special. I’m glad you liked it!
Yea but chicken can be dry if you overcook it. Just saying! I’m gonna try it tho.
This was amazing! My family loved it. Definitely a keeper!
Looks good, but I don’t think my family will like it. They don’t like green stuff. 🤷♂️
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! It’s a hit in my house too, especially with the kids.
My kids loved it, but honestly I couldn’t taste the pesto. Was it supposed to be stronger?
I don’t know, the pesto tastes funny to me. Maybe I did somethin wrong?
Yum! I’ve made it twice already! The cherry tomatoes burst with flavor!
I don’t get it. How can tomatoes be bursty? Aren’t they just, like, squishy? 🤔
I totally agree! The burst of tomatoes is just heavenly. What sides do you usually serve it with?
It didn’t turn out well for me. I think I overcooked the chicken, it was dry. But the flavor was nice.
Just add more sauce next time! Make it juicy!!!
Sorry to hear that! Dry chicken can be a bummer, but at least the flavor was nice. Maybe try a meat thermometer next time?
The chicken was a bit dry for my liking, but the pesto was tasty. Might try again with less cooking time.
I had the same issue! I think I overcooked mine too. Next time, I’ll cut the time down like you suggested!
I’m not sure why people always find chicken dry, maybe use a meat thermometer? 😂
I used store-bought pesto and added some garlic. Also forgot the cheese. Still good!
Wow, this recipe is a hit! My kids loved it, and it was so easy to make!
This recipe is amazing! My family loved it, and I will definitely make it again.
I accidentally burned the chicken 😭, but it still tasted good lol!
I found the recipe a bit confusing. Do you really need to sear the chicken first? Seemed unnecessary.
Searing the chicken first helps lock in the juices and gives it a nice texture. Trust the process! 🍗
This was so easy and delish! My fam loved it! 5 stars for sure! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tasted great! My son even ate the tomatoes which is a miracle.
Would not recommend. Chicken was dry and the pesto kinda overpowered everything. Meh.
Easy and yummy recipe! I’ll definitely share with my mom.
This recipe was really easy! I used store-bought pesto, lol. Will make again!
I mean, how easy can it really be? Chicken and sauce? I’ve seen people do it way more fancy.
Using store-bought pesto is a smart move! I wish I would have thought of that. Can’t wait to try this myself!
Uh, how do you know when the chicken is done? I just guessed and it was raw! 😩
What do you mean raw? Just cook it longer! Or cut it open to see if it’s pink. It’s not that hard! 😅
You can use a meat thermometer to check for doneness! The chicken should reach 165°F (75°C). Don’t guess next time! 😊
Can I use regular tomatoes instead of cherry? I’m not sure if I have those.
You can use regular tomatoes, but they’ll be bigger and might need to be chopped more. Just adjust the cooking time if needed. 😊
Pesto chicken? Sounds fancy but it’s actually so simple. Gonna make it again for my friends!
It was okay, but I think I overcooked the chicken. Next time I’ll watch it closer.
How many chicken breasts does this make? I might need more, lol!
I dunno, mine came out dry. I followed the recipe to the letter but maybe I cooked it too long? What did I do wrong?
Sounds like you might have overcooked it, maybe just check the oven next time. Cooking times can vary!
Pesto chicken? More like ‘what did I just eat?’… Not for me. Sorry, but no.
Wow, really? I think it tastes great! What did you do differently? Maybe you just don’t like pesto?
I actually love pesto chicken! It’s one of my favorites. Maybe you just didn’t make it right? 🤷♀️
But why would you put tomatoes with chicken? That’s just wrong!
My kids are picky eaters but they actually ate this! That’s a win! 🏆
My kid won’t eat that green stuff. 🤢 Pesto seems weird. Maybe try something else?
That’s awesome! I love when kids surprise you like that. Pesto is so tasty! 🎉
Chicken and tomatoes are a classic combo! So easy to follow, thanks!
Simple, tasty, and quick! Just what I needed after a long day at work. Also, add some garlic for flavor!
I love the idea of adding garlic! It really elevates the flavor. Glad this recipe worked for you after a tough day!
I think this might just be a 3-star recipe because i prefer fried chicken.
Chicken and pesto? Boring. You should add more spice or something! 🙄
Wasn’t sure about the combo at first but wow! This turned out amazing. Going on my favorites list! 🍗💚
This was amazing! The pesto really made a difference, and it was so easy to follow. Will definitely make again!
I made this for my picky kids and they didn’t like it. Guess I’m stuck with leftovers.
Maybe try a different sauce? Pesto can be a bit strong for kids, you know?
I substituted basil with spinach for the pesto. Turned out great!
Sounds like a delicious substitution! Spinach is a nice twist. I gotta try that!
I don’t know about using spinach instead of basil. Isn’t pesto supposed to taste a certain way?
Pesto chicken? Never thought of that! Gonna try it this weekend!
Sounds delicious! Can’t wait to hear how it turns out. 😊
Pesto chicken? Does that even taste good? I dunno about that.
Easy to make, but I forgot to buy cherry tomatoes. Still turned out good!
Tasted good, but simple. Maybe add some spices? Just a thought!
So good! I added some garlic and was not disappointed. My kids loved it too! 👏
I forgot the parmesan cheese 😭. Still not bad but I bet it would taste better with it. Next time!
Do you think I can use marinara sauce instead of pesto? Not really a fan of pesto…
followed exactly but the chicken took longer than 20 mins, also couldn’t taste the pesto much. Meh.
I had the same issue with the timing! My chicken took way longer too. Maybe depends on the thickness? But yeah, the pesto flavor was a bit lacking for me as well.
Just did it with some spaghetti, yum. 👌👍
Made it for a dinner party, everyone loved it! Thanks for sharing!
Pesto chicken? More like ‘chicken drowned in green sauce’ 😂
Pesto chicken? Can’t be happenin! Pesto is for pastas, not chicken. But my wife loved it. Go figure.
This recipe is AMAZING! My family loved it and it was super easy to make. Thanks for sharing!
Delicious! 😋
Looks good and all, but can you really trust store-bought pesto? Homemade is way better! Just sayin’.. 🤷♂️
Totally agree! This recipe is a keeper! I even made it for my friends and they loved it too! 😍
I don’t know about your oven, but mine took 30 mins to cook the chicken! Over cooked.
I tried it but the chicken was a bit dry. Maybe I overcooked it?
I am not a fan of green sauce, but this wasn’t bad.
Pesto chicken goes hard! #easymeals
I dunno, sounds a bit too easy. Does it really taste that good? 🤔
Absolutely love this! So easy and tasty! Tried it last night. Yum! 😋
Chicken perfect! But what is ‘pesto’??? Just use spaghetti sauce instead.
Pesto is a sauce made with basil, garlic, pine nuts, and cheese. It’s really good on chicken! You should try it before switching to spaghetti sauce. Trust me!
Idk what pesto is either. Spaghetti sauce just seems easier. Who needs all these fancy sauces? 😕
My dog wouldn’t even eat it. 🐶
Dogs can be weird, but this recipe sounds good to me! Did you try giving it to your dog with some rice or something?
Maybe your dog just has picky taste? I bet it’s super yummy for humans though! 😋
It looks delicious, but I wonder if the pesto is too strong for chicken?
This was so delicious! My family loved it. Definitely a keeper! 😊
5 stars all day! Super easy and quick for busy weeknights.
Y’all know chicken should be cooked till 180° right? 🤔
True, but I’ve always heard 165°F is enough for chicken. 🤷♂️
Yeah but who actually has a meat thermometer? Just cook it till it looks good! 😂
Okay dish but a bit salty for my taste. Next time less salt!