Creamy Pesto Chicken
This creamy pesto chicken combines thin chicken breasts and grape tomatoes with a smooth garlic, Parmesan, and basil pesto cream sauce. It comes together in one skillet in 25 minutes for an easy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 1 pound (450 g)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 120 ml chicken broth
- 60 ml heavy cream
- 120 g basil pesto
- 25 g freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 250 g grape tomatoes halved
Instructions
- Slice the 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts horizontally to make 4 thinner pieces. Season both sides evenly with ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper.
- Heat 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and sear for 4–5 minutes per side until golden. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Add the 3 cloves garlic, minced, to the same skillet and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in 120 ml chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Lower the heat, then stir in 60 ml heavy cream, 120 g basil pesto, and 25 g freshly grated Parmesan cheese until the pesto cream sauce is smooth.
- Add 250 g grape tomatoes, halved, and simmer gently for 2 minutes.
- Return the chicken and any juices from the plate to the skillet. Coat the chicken with the creamy pesto sauce and cook gently until warmed through and the thickest part reaches 165°F (74°C). Serve immediately with the sauce spooned over the chicken.
Notes
Slice the Chicken Evenly: I cut each breast horizontally into two similarly sized pieces so they brown evenly and finish cooking at approximately the same time.
Taste Before Adding More Salt: Pesto, chicken broth, and Parmesan can all contribute salt, so I taste the finished sauce before adding any extra seasoning.
Keep the Sauce at a Gentle Simmer: I lower the heat before adding the cream and pesto because vigorous boiling can make the sauce separate or become too thick.
Use Freshly Grated Parmesan: Freshly grated Parmesan incorporates more smoothly into the warm sauce and helps create an even consistency.
Nutrition
Calories: 366kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 855mg | Potassium: 393mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1414IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 147mg | Iron: 1mg
