Description
Creamy Pesto Chicken is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked to perfection and bathed in a rich, pesto-infused cream sauce with juicy grape tomatoes, making it an elegant yet easy meal for any night of the week.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.3 lb.)
Seasonings
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Oil & Aromatics
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Vegetables
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, sliced in half
Sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup pesto
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Fillet the chicken breasts into two thinner pieces or pound them to an even thickness, then cut each into halves to make four portions. Season each piece evenly with a pinch of salt and pepper on both sides.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and swirl to coat. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook until golden brown on each side and cooked through, about 7-10 minutes total. Remove the chicken and set aside on a clean plate.
- Sauté the Tomatoes and Garlic: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the remaining olive oil, minced garlic, and grape tomatoes to the skillet. Sauté for approximately 5 minutes or until the tomatoes soften and start to burst.
- Make the Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and add the pesto. Stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook for a couple of minutes until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Combine & Simmer: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, turning to coat with the sauce and tomatoes. Let everything simmer together for 3-5 minutes until the chicken is heated through.
- Serve: Serve hot, garnished with extra pesto or fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- For extra flavor, top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of chicken broth or pasta water to loosen it.
- This dish pairs well with pasta, rice, or crusty bread.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 256mg
- Fat: 33g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
