Description
Creamy Pesto Chicken is a quick and easy 30 minute meal that needs to be on your family weeknight dinner rotation. It's rich, creamy, and delicious.
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless (about 2 pounds)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons pesto sauce
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
For the sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small red onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons pesto sauce
- 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Use a paper towel to pat the chicken breasts completely dry. Season well with salt, pepper, and pesto sauce. Set aside for 5 minutes.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until sizzling hot, about 2 minutes. Sear the chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes on each side. The internal temperature for the chicken should reach 165F as read on a meat thermometer. Allow the chicken to rest on a plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add butter and heat until it melts and starts to bubble, about 1 minute. Add onion and garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in cream and pesto sauce. Bring the sauce to a simmer and stir occasionally until thickened to a desired consistency, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add bell pepper and cook under tender, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Return the chicken to the pan and toss well to coat. Let the chicken cook with the sauce for another minute and garnish with pine nuts and fresh basil. Serve immediately.
Notes
Meal prep tips: Keep pesto chicken in an airtight container in the fridge. I recommend slicing or dicing the chicken before you store, depending on your needs for meal prep.
How to store: Creamy pesto chicken will last for 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container. By the fourth day, it’s probably still good to eat, but if it hasn’t been stored properly, you may need to toss it.
How to reheat: Reheat creamy pesto chicken over the stove on medium-low heat until warmed through. You may need to add a splash of water if the sauce has thickened up too much when storing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian