Description
This Creamy Pesto Chicken recipe features tender, pan-seared chicken breasts coated in a luscious sauce made from rich heavy cream, fresh pesto, and sweet grape tomatoes. It’s a quick and flavorful stovetop dish perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
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 even thickness and then cut each breast in half to create four portions. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Cook the chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once hot, add the chicken and cook for about 7-10 minutes total, flipping until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken and set aside on 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 the minced garlic and halved grape tomatoes. Sauté for about 5 minutes until tomatoes soften and begin to break down.
- Make the creamy pesto sauce: Stir in the heavy cream and pesto into the skillet with the tomatoes. Allow the sauce to come to a gentle simmer. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
- Combine and finish cooking: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, coating each piece in the sauce. Let the chicken simmer for a few minutes to heat through and absorb the flavors. Serve the chicken hot with the creamy pesto tomato sauce spooned over it.
Notes
- To ensure even cooking, pounding the chicken breasts to uniform thickness is recommended.
- You can substitute grape tomatoes with cherry tomatoes if preferred.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half but the sauce may be less rich.
- Serve with pasta, rice, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
