Description
Creamy Pesto Chicken brings irresistible flavor to your table in just 40 minutes. This dish features tender chicken breasts, fresh tomatoes, and a luscious cream and pesto sauce, making it a perfect choice for a quick and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 to 1.5 pounds chicken breast (about 2 large)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt & pepper (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic (or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder)
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- ¼ to ⅓ cup basil pesto (or more to taste)
- ¼ cup grated parmesan (or more to taste)
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise, pound them lightly to make even cutlets, and season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil, and sear the chicken until golden on both sides, about 3-4 minutes each. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Lower the heat to medium, add the tomatoes to the skillet, and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened. If using minced garlic, add it now and cook for 30 seconds; if using garlic powder, wait until the cream is added to incorporate it.
- Pour in chicken broth and bring it to a gentle simmer, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. In a separate bowl, whisk together the cream and cornstarch, then pour into the skillet, simmering very gently for 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in the pesto and grated parmesan cheese until combined. Return the chicken to the skillet, turning it in the sauce, and simmer gently until heated through.
- Serve immediately over linguine or spaghetti, with extra pesto, parmesan cheese, and cracked black pepper if desired.
Notes
For more flavor, consider adding a splash of white wine to the sauce before simmering.
Adjust the amount of pesto based on your taste preferences—feel free to use more if you love its flavor!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 41g
- Cholesterol: 165mg