Description
Creamy Pesto Chicken is a quick and flavorful skillet meal featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a luscious sauce made with fresh pesto, juicy grape tomatoes, and rich heavy cream. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, this dish combines vibrant flavors with a creamy texture that pairs wonderfully with pasta or crusty bread.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.3 lb. total)
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
Sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, sliced in half
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup pesto
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Fillet the chicken breasts into two thinner pieces each, or pound them to an even thickness and cut each breast in half to create four portions. Season both sides of the chicken with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Cook the chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and swirl to coat the surface. Add the chicken pieces and cook on each side for about 7-10 minutes total until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken to a clean plate.
- Sauté garlic and tomatoes: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet, then add minced garlic and halved grape tomatoes. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the tomatoes begin to soften and break down.
- Make the creamy pesto sauce: Stir in the heavy cream and pesto, mixing well with the tomatoes and garlic. Allow the sauce to come to a gentle simmer. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Combine chicken with sauce: Return the chicken to the skillet, turning it to coat evenly with the sauce. Let the chicken simmer in the creamy pesto sauce for a few more minutes to heat through. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- For an extra herby flavor, garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.
- Serve with cooked pasta, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the creamy sauce.
- Chicken thickness ensures even cooking, so pounding or filleting is recommended.
- Use homemade or store-bought pesto depending on availability; adjust salt accordingly if using store-bought.
- To make it lighter, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt (added off heat) but note this will change the texture slightly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
