Description
Easy Pesto Chicken is a simple, flavorful baked dish featuring tender chicken breasts topped with aromatic basil pesto, juicy cherry tomatoes, and melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this Italian-American-inspired meal balances fresh ingredients with minimal prep and cooking time.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Toppings
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Optional: fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in the greased baking dish and season both sides generously with salt and black pepper for balanced seasoning.
- Apply Pesto: Spread 2 tablespoons of basil pesto evenly over each chicken breast, ensuring thorough coverage to infuse flavor.
- Add Toppings: Top each chicken breast with halved cherry tomatoes and sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly across the surface to create a delicious, melty topping.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Rest: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute for maximum tenderness.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired and serve the chicken warm alongside your preferred side dishes.
Notes
- This dish pairs wonderfully with pasta, rice, or a fresh green salad for a complete meal.
- For a different cheese flavor, substitute mozzarella with provolone or Parmesan.
- To achieve extra crispiness on top, broil the chicken for 2–3 minutes at the end of baking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 470 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
