Easy Baked Pesto Chicken
Pesto Chicken made with fresh basil, spinach, garlic, walnuts and Parmesan cheese to make each bite irresistible!
6 Servings
| Nutrition (1 serv.) | Amount | Nutrition (1 serv.) | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 436 kcal | Sugar | 1 g |
| Carbs | 3 g | Cholesterol | 125 mg |
| Protein | 43 g | Sodium | 486 mg |
| Fat | 27 g | Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 125 mg | ||
| Sodium | 486 mg | ||
| Fiber | 1 g |
Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 10 min Total Time: 20 min
Ingredients
2 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast 4 pieces, pounded to 3/4-inch thickness
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil (120ml), plus more for drizzling
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt plus more for seasoning
black pepper as needed for seasoning
1 cup basil (30g, 1 ounce) packed
1 cup baby spinach (30g, 1 ounce) packed
3 cloves garlic unpeeled
1/4 cup walnuts plus more for garnish
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese plus more for garnish
1 cup diced tomatoes 1/4-inch dice
Instructions
Place oven rack to the center position. Preheat oven to 450°F.
Drizzle both sides of the chicken breast with olive oil. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.
Place chicken in an ovenproof baking dish or skillet.
Bake in preheated oven until the internal temperature of the chicken is no longer pink and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, about 15 to 18 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the pesto. Place the basil and spinach in a resealable plastic bag. Use a rolling pin to lightly bruise the herbs and greens. Transfer to a food processor or blender.
Heat a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Toast garlic until the outsides are lightly browned, shaking pan occasionally, about 8 minutes. Peel garlic and add to food processor.
Place walnuts in the same pan and toast over medium heat, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to food processor.
Add 1/2 teaspoon salt to the food processor.
Process pesto by pulsing five times to help break down the greens.
Turn food processor on low speed, as it's running slowly drizzle in 1/2 cup olive oil until a smooth pesto with some smaller pieces is formed, about 10 seconds from start to finish.
Add the parmesan cheese to the pesto and process on low speed for 5 seconds.
Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired. Transfer pesto to a small bowl.
Brush some pesto sauce on each cooked chicken breast. Transfer to a serving platter.
Top chicken with chopped walnuts, tomatoes, and cheese. Serve extra pesto sauce on the side.