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Pesto chicken recipe baked with cheese

Pesto chicken recipe

Chef Elina
This pesto chicken recipe is a quick and delicious dinner made with juicy chicken breasts smothered in basil pesto and topped with golden, melty cheese. Perfect for weeknights or meal prep, it’s ready in just 30 minutes and pairs beautifully with pasta, salads, or roasted vegetables.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine Italian
Servings 5 people
Calories 310 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Oven for baking the chicken evenly.
  • 1 Baking dish / casserole dish to hold the chicken breasts and pesto sauce.
  • 1 Cutting board for prepping chicken and optional garnishes.
  • 1 Chef’s knife to trim chicken breasts or slice after cooking.
  • 1 Measuring spoons & cups to measure pesto, cheese, and olive oil.
  • 1 Tongs or spatula for placing and serving the chicken easily.
  • 1 Aluminum foil (optional) to cover the dish if you want to prevent over-browning.
  • 1 Meat thermometer to check that chicken reaches the safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Ingredients
  

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts1 cup basil pesto (homemade or store-bought)1 cup shredded mozzarella or Parmesan1 tbsp olive oilSalt & pepper to taste

Instructions
 

Preheat oven to 375°F.Spread pesto at the bottom of a baking dish.Place chicken breasts, season with salt & pepper.Smother with pesto, sprinkle cheese.Bake 20–25 minutes until internal temp is 165°F.

    Notes

    For extra juiciness, pound chicken to even thickness.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1chicken breastCalories: 310kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 35gFat: 17gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 450mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!