Creamy Pesto Chicken Recipe

Creamy pesto chicken is a delicious and flavorful dish that is made with just a few basic ingredients and ready to eat in only 30 minutes. Thin chicken breasts are coated in a creamy and rich sauce that includes pesto sauce which will have your mouth bursting with flavor with every bite.

It is a fantastic recipe to make on a busy weeknight because it comes together with only 7 common ingredients that you may already have in your kitchen. Of course, the base of the recipe begins with chicken breasts.

Two large chicken breasts are cut down to make 4 thin fillets. Then after they are seasoned with salt and pepper and they are put in a hot skillet until they are cooked through and turn golden brown.

The chicken is then removed from the pan to make room for grape tomato halves and garlic. Once the tomatoes break down a creamy pesto sauce is made by combining heavy cream, pesto, and Parmesan cheese.

The chicken is then added back to the sauce and cooked until it’s heated through and coated with the delicious and flavorful sauce. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

1. The Flavor

The combination of cream and pesto creates a rich and savory flavor that is hard to resist. Add in the flavor of the grape tomatoes and garlic and this will become your new favorite recipe!

2. Easy to Make

Creamy pesto chicken is a simple recipe that doesn’t require a lot of time or effort to prepare. This makes it a great option for busy weeknights when you don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.

3. Comfort Food

Any type of hot, creamy dish makes for the perfect comfort food recipe. Serve it on a cold winter day or whenever you need a food to make you feel full and satisfied.

4. Versatile Recipe

This is a versatile recipe can be made with other types of protein, including chicken thighs, pork or even shrimp. Then you can also switch up what sides that you serve it with such as pasta, rice, or vegetables to keep it a new and exciting meal each and every time.

What To Serve With Pesto Chicken

As mentioned above there are many side dishes that complement this dish. Here are some my favorite sides that I like to serve with it:

Pasta: The pasta can be cooked and then tossed with some of the pesto cream sauce to create a delicious and filling meal. The most common types of pasta to use with this recipe is fettuccine or linguine, however penne is also one of my favorites.

Rice: Rice is another great side dish for this recipe. You can serve it plain as a side or serve the chicken right on top of the rice and flavor the rice with the cream sauce.

Vegetables: A side of roasted or steamed broccoli, asparagus, and green beans pair well with the creamy pesto flavors.

Bread: Any time you serve a meal that involves cream sauce it is natural that a piece of bread is necessary to soak up any of the leftover sauce. A slice of French bread or homemade Four Cheese Garlic Bread would be perfect with this recipe.

Salad: For a little healthier and lighter option, a fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette dressing can help balance out the richness of the creamy sauce.

Helpful Recipe Tips

Don’t Overcook the Chicken: To prevent the chicken breasts from drying out be sure to not overcook the chicken pieces. It is best to use an instant read digital thermometer so you know exactly when the chicken is ready to come out of the skillet.

Use Fresh Ingredients: For the best flavor, it’s important to use fresh ingredients, especially when it comes to the pesto. Homemade pesto is ideal, but you can also use fresh store-bought pesto as well.

Use Heavy Cream: It is best to use heavy cream to make the rich and creamy pesto chicken sauce. However, you can use half and half or milk although the sauce may be thinner and not as flavorful.

Don’t Let The Sauce Boil: Once you add the cream to the sauce be careful not to let the sauce boil. If the sauce boils, it may curdle and separate. Therefore keep an eye on the sauce so that it doesn’t go past a simmer.

Season To Taste: Adjust the seasonings to your liking. Add salt and pepper to taste or more Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.

Serve immediately: It is best serve this dish while it’s still hot and the sauce is creamy. If you let it sit for too long the sauce will start to thicken and the chicken may become tough.

Creamy Pesto Chicken Recipe

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 large chicken breast, boneless and skinless
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 pint grape tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup pesto
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

Slice each chicken breasts horizontal to the cutting board to make a total of 4 thin chicken breast fillets. If a section of a breast is thicker, pound it to make it equal in thickness to the other pieces of meat for even cooking.

Then season each breast with salt and pepper on both sides. Set aside.

Place a large skillet over medium heat. If using a nonstick skillet add 1 tablespoon of the extra virgin olive oil while the pan is still cold. However if using a stainless steel skillet add the oil when the skillet gets hot.

Then add the chicken breasts to the skillet and cook on each side until golden brown and cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F when checked with an instant read digital thermometer at the thickest portion of each breast (about 7-10 minutes total depending on the thickness).

Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate or platter. Then reduce the heat to medium-low.

Make The Creamy Pesto Chicken Sauce

Add the remaining 1 Tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil to the skillet. Then add the tomatoes and minced garlic. Sauté for about five minutes, or until the tomatoes start to soften and begin to flatten.

Then add the heavy cream and pesto to the pan and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer.

Stir in the Parmesan cheese until it melts. Then add the chicken breasts back to the skillet and flip each piece a few times to coat them in the sauce.

Continue to simmer for 3-4 minutes or until the chicken is heated through. Serve warm.

Enjoy! Mary

To receive our 3 Recipe Articles in your inbox each week, sign up for our free email list located in the middle of each recipe or email me at contact@makeyourmeals.com. You can also follow us on Facebook and Pinterest. This article may contain affiliate links where a small commission is paid if you purchase a product at no additional cost to you.