Description
Whipping up Cheesy Pesto Baked Chicken is a breeze when you grab some juicy chicken breasts and layer them with zesty pesto and melted cheese. Your dinner table will light up with flavor when this simple yet satisfying dish comes straight from the oven.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 cup pesto sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Cheese and Seasoning:
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 375F, preparing a welcoming environment for the chicken.
- Lightly coat a baking dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil, creating a non-stick surface for your chicken.
- Place 4 chicken breasts in the dish, generously seasoning each with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Carefully spread ¼ cup pesto sauce over each chicken breast, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup mozzarella cheese and 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese across the top of each piece.
- Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for exactly 25-30 minutes, watching for golden cheese and fully cooked chicken.
- Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for 3-4 minutes, letting the flavors settle and juices redistribute.
Notes
- Picking fresh, high-quality pesto makes a significant difference in the overall flavor of the dish.
- Chicken thickness matters – pound breasts to an even thickness so they cook uniformly and remain juicy.
- For a lower-carb version, swap regular mozzarella for part-skim and use homemade pesto without added sugars.
- Letting the chicken rest after baking allows juices to redistribute, ensuring each bite stays tender and succulent.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 500 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg