Description
Creamy Pesto Chicken delivers a simple weeknight dinner that comes together faster than you can order takeout. Tender chicken gets smothered in a rich, herby sauce that makes dinner feel like a restaurant-quality treat without any complicated kitchen skills.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 pint grape tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic
Sauces and Seasonings:
- ¼ cup pesto
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Sprinkle ⅛ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper evenly across both chicken breasts, ensuring complete coverage.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat at 375°F. Carefully place seasoned chicken breasts into hot pan.
- Cook chicken for 6-7 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer cooked chicken to a clean plate.
- Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to same skillet. Drop in minced garlic and halved grape tomatoes, sautéing for 3-4 minutes until tomatoes soften slightly.
- Pour ½ cup heavy cream and ¼ cup pesto into skillet, stirring ingredients until sauce becomes smooth and slightly thickened.
- Return chicken breasts to skillet, nestling them into sauce. Simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing chicken to reheat and absorb sauce flavors.
- Remove skillet from heat and plate your creamy pesto chicken immediately, spooning extra sauce over the top.
Notes
- Salt and pepper the chicken just before cooking to ensure maximum flavor absorption.
- Use a meat thermometer to check chicken doneness, aiming for an internal temperature of 165°F for safe and juicy results.
- For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt to reduce calories without losing creaminess.
- Fresh basil pesto will give the most vibrant flavor, but store-bought works perfectly when short on time.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 to 4
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg