Pesto Chicken

Elevate your dinner game with this flavorful Pesto Chicken recipe—perfectly seared chicken breasts adorned with a vibrant, homemade basil pesto and finished in the oven for a juicy, golden perfection. Featuring fresh ingredients like aromatic basil leaves, rich parmesan cheese, and crunchy pine nuts, the pesto is a symphony of nutty and citrusy flavors complemented by a touch of garlic and zesty lemon juice. This easy, 35-minute recipe is a weeknight hero, combining elegance with simplicity. Serve it with your favorite sides, such as roasted vegetables or a light pasta, and garnish with extra basil and parmesan for a restaurant-worthy meal right at home. Perfect for family dinners or entertaining, this dish is a must-try for fans of Italian-inspired cooking.

Nutriscore Rating: 63/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cups basil leaves
• 0.5 cup parmesan cheese
• 0.25 cup pine nuts
• 2 pieces garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 0.5 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 2

Season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt and black pepper.

Step 3

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat.

Step 4

Once the oil is hot, add the chicken breasts and sear each side for 3-4 minutes until golden brown.

Step 5

While the chicken is searing, make the pesto. In a food processor, combine basil leaves, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and garlic cloves. Pulse until finely chopped.

Step 6

With the processor running, slowly pour in the lemon juice and 0.5 cup of extra virgin olive oil until well combined and smooth. Stop to scrape down the sides as necessary.

Step 7

Once the chicken is seared, remove the skillet from heat. Spread about 2 tablespoons of the pesto over each chicken breast.

Step 8

Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).

Step 9

Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for a couple of minutes before serving.

Step 10

Garnish with additional parmesan cheese and freshly chopped basil, if desired. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(971.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2805.6

Total Fat 202.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 37.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 14.2g
Cholesterol 636.1mg	0%
Sodium 3199.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 10.6g	0%
Dietary Fiber 2.4g	0%
Total Sugars 1.6g
Protein 237.6g	0%

Vitamin D 34.8IU	0%
Calcium 570.2mg	0%
Iron 9.4mg	0%
Potassium 2101.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 64.7%

Protein: 33.7%

Carbs: 1.5%