Description
Whip up this pesto chicken cauliflower rice for a quick, satisfying meal that brings zesty Mediterranean flavors to your dinner table. Tender chicken nestled on a bed of cauliflower rice gets drizzled with fresh basil pesto, creating a low-carb dish packed with delicious goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 2 chicken breasts
Vegetables:
- 2 cups cauliflower rice
Seasonings and Toppings:
- ½ cup pesto sauce
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 salt
- 1 black pepper
Instructions
- Warm 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat until the surface shimmers slightly.
- Drop diced chicken into the hot pan, sprinkling ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper across the meat.
- Sauté chicken pieces for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown edges develop and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Pour ½ cup pesto sauce directly over the cooked chicken, gently tossing to coat every piece evenly.
- Allow the pesto to heat through for 2 minutes, letting the flavors meld together while stirring occasionally.
- Transfer your sizzling pesto chicken onto a bed of prepared cauliflower rice.
- Generously sprinkle ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese over the top, letting it cascade across the dish.
Notes
- Swap chicken for tofu or tempeh to create a vegetarian version that keeps the recipe’s delicious pesto flavor profile.
- Use fresh homemade pesto when possible, as it delivers more vibrant taste compared to store-bought versions.
- For extra nutrition, add chopped spinach or roasted bell peppers to the skillet while cooking chicken for added color and nutrients.
- Choose pre-riced cauliflower from the produce section to save time and make meal prep faster and easier.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg