Pesto Chicken is the juiciest, most flavorful chicken recipe. This easy Pesto Chicken recipe is foolproof and takes less than 5 minutes hands on time! Enjoy it with veggies, mashed potatoes or on a bed of pasta.
I love an easy dinner and this Pesto Chicken is no exception! It’s the perfect healthy dinner recipe that takes just a few minutes to make. It requires just 3 ingredients and 5 minutes hands on time.
It’s a one dish dinner recipe you’ll make again and again! No need to pan sear, or season the chicken, just bake, allow it to rest and enjoy. The pesto is filled with flavor and seals in the moisture to create a juicy chicken for any occasion.
This foolproof chicken is never dry – it comes out perfect every time. I serve it straight out of the baking dish for our family or transfer to a platter for entertaining.
What Goes with Pesto Chicken:
There are so many ways to enjoy this Pesto Chicken recipe. You can serve it alone or on a bed of lettuce for a salad, tossed in pasta, on top of pizza, between focaccia for a sandwich or panini, on a wrap or with a side of vegetables. You’ll want to make extra to enjoy all week!
Do You Have to Marinate Chicken with Pesto?
You can marinate chicken with pesto by placing the covered dish in the refrigerator for an hour or the coated chicken breasts in a ziplock bag for an hour before baking, but it’s unnecessary with this juicy Pesto Chicken recipe.
How to Bake Pesto Chicken:
- Brush both sides of the chicken breast with olive oil and pesto.
- Bake Chicken Pesto in a shallow dish in a preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove and allow to rest while it continues to cook for the juiciest chicken.
- Remove from oven and drizzle the olive oil and pesto on top with a spoon.
- Slice {or dice}. Continue reading below for the all the details and printable recipe.
I hope you enjoy this Pesto Chicken bake as much as we do! If you try this recipe, please write a five star review and help me share on Facebook and Pinterest! Don’t forget to sign up to receive each new easy recipe to your inbox.
If you love this easy Chicken Recipe you’ll love:
- Chicken Nachos
- Chicken Wrap
- Baked Chicken Breast
- Prosciutto and Fontina Stuffed Chicken
- Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Chicken Tacos
Is Pesto Chicken Healthy?
Traditional Pesto Sauce {you can use store bought pesto or make your own with this easy Pesto recipe from Ina Garten} is a combination of olive oil, pine nuts, fresh basil, garlic and parmesan cheese which offer a lot of nutrients and are a healthy addition to any diet, but is high in fat. The excess cooks off the chicken. This Pesto Chicken comes in at less than 200 calories per serving, even less when removing excess olive oil!
A little pesto goes a long way. You need just one tablespoon per chicken breast. Coat the top and as it bakes it will melt off and the bottom of the chicken breasts will marinate in it as well.
To see just how quick this easy chicken recipe is, watch the video in this post!
Pesto Chicken Recipe:
Pesto Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 Tbsp pesto
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- In a baking dish, brush both sides of chicken breasts with olive oil and spread pesto on top of each.
- Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven.
- Allow chicken to rest for 10 minutes {it will continue to cook}. Slice or dice.
Recipe Notes
This pesto chicken is perfect alone, on pizza, pasta, salads, sandwiches, wraps and more! Enjoy all week by storing in an airtight container or sealed bag once it cools.
You can marinate chicken with pesto by placing the covered dish in the refrigerator for an hour or the coated chicken breasts in a ziplock bag for an hour before baking, but it’s unnecessary with this juicy Pesto Chicken recipe.
Using pesto is such a great way to add so much flavor and really change up a dish! I’m all for an easy recipe with loads of deliciousness.
Looks delicious! If it’s fool proof, then I’m in!
YUM! So easy and delicious! I could eat pesto on everything 🙂
Mmm this looks so good!
I haven’t made this in years – forgot all about it and I happen to have chicken out for tonight and have a jar of pesto in the fridge!! thanks!!