Quick and easy one pot creamy pesto chicken, made with simple ingredients. This 30 minute dinner idea is packed with cheese and perfect for busy weeknights.
If you have pesto in your fridge, you need to make this CREAMY pesto chicken for dinner tonight.
I have seen VARIOUS recipes for pesto chicken ranging from grilled pesto chicken to baked pesto chicken to stuffed pesto chicken to pesto chicken bake BUT I like to make pesto chicken on stovetop.
It's fast, easy and ready in under 30 minutes.
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Here are some TIPS for making creamy pesto chicken:
- Use a NON-STICK pan to prevent the chicken from sticking to the pan.
- Use FRESH ginger, garlic and basil since it adds so much flavor.
- ADJUST the quantities of salt, pepper, ginger, garlic, Italian seasoning based on your preference AND also based on the type of pesto you are using. Some pestos are already seasoned very well and no additional seasoning may be needed.
- I used boneless chicken cubes but you can also make pesto chicken thighs or drumsticks.
- I only use cherry tomatoes in this recipe but you can also make pesto chicken with veggies like green beans, broccoli, onions and mushrooms.
- For easy basil pesto chicken pasta recipe, just toss cooked pasta into the prepared pesto chicken mixture at the end. Mix thoroughly and serve.
- For a slightly healthy chicken pesto recipe, use low fat cream cheese.
You can use this recipe to make:
- pesto chicken salad
- pesto chicken sandwich
- pesto chicken pasta
- pesto chicken pizza
- pesto chicken marinade (omit cream cheese)
What goes with pesto chicken?
You can serve it with:
- Pasta/ Noodles
- Zoodles (Zucchini noodles)
- Rice
- Couscous
- Quinoa
- Spaghetti sqaush
How to make pesto chicken?
The process is very SIMPLE. Start off by heating oil in a pan. Then, add chicken, ginger garlic, herbs and spices, pesto. Cover and cook until chicken is cooked. Reduce the liquid. Then, add cherry tomatoes. Cover and cook for a little bit. Finally, add cream cheese and mix everything until cream. Garnish with fresh basil, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
You can also use this recipe to make baked chicken with pesto sauce OR grilled chicken with pesto sauce. Instead of the stovetop, you will use a grill or oven.
If you liked this recipe for chicken with pesto sauce and tomatoes, you may like some of these other chicken dinner ideas:
One Pot Bruschetta Chicken Recipe
Recipe
Creamy Pesto Chicken Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 ½ lb Chicken breasts Cut into 2 inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon Ginger Finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Garlic Finely chopped
- Salt To taste
- Pepper To taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup Basil pesto
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes Sliced in half
- ¼ cup Cream cheese
- 2 tablespoon Mozzarella Optional, Shredded, For garnish
- 2 tablespoon Parmesan Optional, Shredded, For garnish
- 2 tablespoon Basil Optional, Fresh, Thinly sliced
Instructions
- Heat oil in a wide non-stick pan on medium high heat.
- Add chicken, ginger, garlic, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and pesto and mix everything together.
- Cover and cook for about 10 minutes.
- Then, uncover the lid and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes until the liquid is reduced a bit.
- Add cherry tomatoes.
- Cover and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add cream cheese and mix it all until well-blended.
- Garnish with shredded mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
- Serve over pasta and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Read all my tips above.
- I used very plain basil pesto without any seasonings/salt/pepper. If you are using pesto that has all that, you will have to adjust quantities of herbs and spices accordingly.
- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
Well, that's all for today.
Until next time, tata my lovelies!
Jen
This looks amazing! Definitely putting this into my dinner rotation!
Abeer Rizvi
It's soooooo good. You can adjust the herbs and spices and even the veggies to suit your taste preference... a lot of versatility with this recipe!
Delaney
This is the ultimate pasta dish!
Delaney
I would love to have this for dinner!
Amanda
I love a great one pot meal, and pesto makes everything better!
Allyson Zea
Oh this recipe is one for the books! Looks delicious!
Shelley
I adore quick and easy weeknight meals that are packed with nutrition and big flavor - so yeah - I love this recipe idea! And I have to say, I always am so impressed with you list of tips and suggestions - everything is so well thought-out, so people know they can try the recipe with confidence. Really terrific!
Serena
This looks so comforting! I know the family would love it!
Abeer Rizvi
Mine sure did!
Jocelyn
Looks great!!!
Abeer Rizvi
Thanks. Hope you give it a shot!
Sandra
This is delicious!
Abeer Rizvi
So happy yo hear you liked it!
Art
This dish looks so full of flavor!
Abeer Rizvi
It really is and super creamy too!
Marina
I'm so into one pot meals right now!
Abeer Rizvi
They are truly the best and such a time saver!