Description
Savory pesto chicken with roasted tomatoes brings Mediterranean sunshine to your dinner table. Fragrant basil, tender chicken, and juicy roasted tomatoes create a quick, elegant meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Protein:
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup pesto sauce
Vegetables:
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
Seasonings and Extras:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper for even cooking and easy cleanup.
- Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels to ensure proper seasoning adherence and better browning.
- Generously coat chicken breasts with pesto sauce, ensuring complete and even coverage on all sides.
- Arrange cherry tomatoes and minced garlic around the pesto-coated chicken on the prepared baking sheet.
- Drizzle olive oil over tomatoes and chicken, then sprinkle salt and black pepper for enhanced flavor profile.
- Roast in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and tomatoes are slightly blistered.
- Remove from oven and let chicken rest for 5 minutes to retain moisture and distribute juices.
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves and sprinkle parmesan cheese over the chicken and roasted tomatoes before serving.
- Slice chicken and plate with the caramelized roasted tomatoes for a vibrant and aromatic presentation.
Notes
- Ensure chicken breasts are uniform in thickness by gently pounding them to promote even cooking and prevent dry edges.
- For a gluten-free option, verify that store-bought pesto is free from wheat-based ingredients or make homemade pesto using certified gluten-free components.
- Swap chicken breasts with plant-based alternatives like tofu or tempeh for a vegetarian version, adjusting cooking time to prevent overcooking.
- Enhance meal prep by marinating chicken in pesto overnight, allowing deeper flavor penetration and more tender meat texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 365
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 590 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg