I love using pesto in recipes because it adds tons of flavor in one fell swoop, which is super important when it comes to busy weeknights. This Creamy pesto Chicken is absolutely stunning on the plate, yet it’s super fast and easy. This is another one of those great “date night” dinners for when you want to impress someone, but you’re nervous so you also need something easy and fool-proof. 😅
What Kind of Pesto to Use
The beauty of this dish is that you can use just about any type of pesto. I used a basil pesto this time around, but a red pesto would also be awesome. Pesto can be on the pricey side, but there are several brands that are a bit more affordable. Look for Alessi, Barilla, Classico, or Filippo Berio.
What Else Can I Add?
This deliciously creamy pesto sauce pairs well with several different ingredients, if you want to take this dish up a notch. Try adding spinach, artichokes, or broccoli for some extra veggies. Or if you want to make this dish extra indulgent, add some grated Parmesan on top, too. I probably also wouldn’t be against adding bacon. 😏
What to Serve with Creamy Pesto Chicken
This chicken has a super lush and creamy sauce and you won’t want to waste a single drop, so make sure to serve this chicken with pasta, rice, or garlic bread to soak it all up. You can spoon the chicken and sauce over a bed of pasta or rice, or serve the chicken and sauce in a bowl with some crusty bread for dipping.
Because the sauce is so rich, you’ll definitely want to serve up something light and fresh on the side, so this is the perfect opportunity to make a simple side salad.
Creamy Pesto Chicken
Servings 4Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 1.3 lb. total) ($6.59)
- 1/8 tsp salt ($0.01)
- 1/8 tsp pepper ($0.01)
- 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided ($0.32)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced ($0.16)
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, sliced in half ($2.00)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream ($0.62)
- 1/4 cup pesto ($0.99)
Instructions
- Fillet the chicken breasts into two thinner pieces (or pound the chicken to an even thickness then cut each breast in half to create four portions). Season the chicken with a pinch of salt and pepper on both sides.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add 1 Tbsp oil and swirl to coat the surface. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook on each side until golden brown and cooked through (about 7-10 minutes total). Remove the chicken to a clean plate.
- Turn the heat down to medium-low. Add the remaining olive oil to the skillet along with the minced garlic and halved grape tomatoes. Sauté for about five minutes, or until the tomatoes start to soften and lose their shape.
- Add the heavy cream and pesto to the skillet with the tomatoes and stir to combine. Allow the sauce to come up to a simmer. Taste the sauce and adjust the salt or pepper to your liking.
- Add the chicken back to the skillet with the tomatoes and sauce, turning to coat the chicken. Allow the chicken to simmer in the sauce for just a few minutes more to heat through. Serve hot.
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Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!If you love creamy chicken recipes, try out our Creamy Garlic Chicken recipe next!
How to Make Creamy Pesto Chicken – Step by Step Photos
Fillet two boneless, skinless chicken breasts into two thinner pieces (or you can pound the chicken to an even thickness and then cut each piece in half horizontally to make four portions). Season the chicken with a pinch of salt and pepper on both sides.
Heat a large skillet over medium. Once hot, add a tablespoon of olive oil and swirl to coat the surface. Add the chicken breast and cook on each side until golden brown and cooked through (7-10 minutes total). Remove the chicken to a clean plate.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, then add the remaining 1 Tbsp oil, 1 pint of grape tomatoes (halved) and 2 cloves of garlic (minced). Sauté the tomatoes and garlic in the skillet for a few minutes, or until the tomatoes begin to soften and lose their shape.
Add ¼ cup pesto and ½ cup heavy cream to the skillet. Stir to combine. Allow the sauce to come up to a simmer. Taste the sauce and add salt or pepper if needed.
Add the chicken back to the skillet and coat it in the sauce. Simmer the chicken in the sauce for a few more minutes or until heated through.
This sauce is so creamy and delicious, you’ll want to lick your plate!
I stumbled on this recipe and since I had one chicken breast, one cup of cream left over from homemade ice cream I made yesterday and one cup of fresh basil I made yesterday AND a half pint of cherry tomatoes, I figured “why not”!
This is absolutely delicious – I would serve this at a dinner party or to impress guests! I served it with egg noodle (because that’s what I had) but would be excellent with any pasta Crusty bread and a salad makes it an entire meal!
Thank you for sharing this – it’s a keeper!!
Quick, easy and absolutely delicious!
Any pasta, any veg and it’s wonderful. The latest iteration was angel hair pasta, frozen leaf spinach and frozen corn and it was a hit.
Yum!! I made this tonight, I doubled the recipe and I added sauteed cremini mushrooms and onions to it and about a quarter cup of cream cheese that I had to use up, I’m diabetic so I cut the chicken up before adding it back to the pan and I ate it as a meal like that :) it was really good! I have gotten very sick of just plain chicken and pork chops lately and this kept my numbers in check will definitely be making again :)
I made this for my vegetable hating teen. I used homemade basil pesto and added a bag of fresh spinach that wilted down very nicely and served it over penne. He just asked me to make it again. I’m calling that a huge win!
What pesto did you all use im curious to know
Aldi’s – really ggod
Insanely good! Followed recipe to a T, will make again, thinking of adding mushrooms next time. Quick, easy, delicious, and low-carb (we served with asparagus and spring mix salad).
I am the cook in our relationship and always want to make something that my wife will love. Of course. The thing is she’s super picky with food and also my biggest critic. Jackie absolutely loved this recipe. I used red pesto instead of the green one. It appeared you used green. Thanks for this!
Do you think white rice will be good with this ?
For sure!
So good and so simple and I love that it finishes my pesto and half and half when theyre almost done. Thank you! Was a hit.
Could this be made in a crockpot, for how long and would you fry the chicken before Thanks
We haven’t tried this one in the crockpot so I’m not sure how it would work out! If you try it, you should only need to sear the chicken for a minute or two each side, but I’m not sure how the liquid amount in this recipe would work in a slow cooker.
What pesto is best for this recipe
Any store-bought or homemade basil pesto is fine!
I‘ve made it with rice and it is soo tasty!! Thank you for this recipe, it changed my life!!!❤️
Awesome taste, easy to follow recipe. I recently decided to start cooking EVERYDAY for my family. The catch is that I only have about an hour to cook and clean up. I have been looking for quick, and easy recipes that taste like I was in the kitchen all day. This was very delicious. My teen, fast food loving son cleaned his plate. Served it with garlic rolls and Cesar salad.
Hi! Could I make this with half and half instead of heavy cream?
That would be fine! Just keep in mind that the sauce will be slightly thinner and less rich!
This was a huge hit with the whole family. I’ll definitely be making it again. Might try it with bacon too.