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–+ servings
3 baked chicken breast pesto in a bed of mixed color cherry tomatoes.

Baked Basil Pesto Chicken

Ajoke
Baked basil pesto chicken is a chicken dinner that is quick, easy, and packed full of flavor. You just need a few simple ingredients, chicken breasts, mozzarella cheese, and jarred pesto sauce. The chicken comes out moist and tender with a cheesy mozzarella crust.
5 from 3 votes
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Course Chicken, Dinner
Cuisine American, Mediterranean
Servings 3
Calories 585 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 large boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 190 g Pesto
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese grated
  • ½ Tablespoon chicken stock powder optional
  • 3 cups cherry tomatoes
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Red chili flakes

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 190C/385F
  • To a baking dish, add cherry tomatoes, chili flakes, chicken stock powder, 2 Tablespoons of pesto sauce, and mix to combine. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
  • In the meantime, pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and place it on a sturdy chopping board. Make a criss-cross incision on the chicken breasts and season the chicken breast all over with salt and black pepper.
  • Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven and arrange the chicken on the tomatoes in a single layer. Spoon the remaining basil pesto sauce on top of the chicken making sure it is all covered in the sauce.
  • Return the baking pan to the oven and bake the chicken for 12-15 minutes. Remove the tray from the oven, now sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese on the cooked chicken then return to the oven for a final time. Continue to bake the pesto chicken for another 5-8 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and the internal temperature of the chicken reads 165F/74C.
  • Remove the chicken from the oven and leave to rest for about 5 minutes for the juice to redistribute into the chicken before serving. Enjoy

Notes

How to store
Leftover pesto chicken can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, make sure to keep it well wrapped or in an airtight container. This chicken can also be frozen for up to 2 months.
When ready to eat, thaw the chicken overnight in the fridge then reheat in a 350F/180C preheated oven until hot throughout. You could also reheat this chicken in the microwave using 30-second intervals until hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 585kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 64gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 156mgSodium: 1162mgPotassium: 1214mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 2452IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 494mgIron: 2mg

Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.

Keyword baked pesto chickedn breast, pesto chicken
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