Description
Pesto chicken emerges as a Mediterranean-inspired delight blending herb-infused sauce with tender chicken breasts. Creamy parmesan and fragrant basil create a luxurious meal you can savor in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 3 tablespoons basil pesto
Main Vegetables:
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 small bell peppers, cut into long thin strips (any color)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup (75 grams) sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) low sodium chicken broth
- Chopped fresh basil, for garnish
- Grated parmesan, for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a spacious nonstick skillet over medium flame, drizzling olive oil across the surface to create a light coating.
- Delicately season chicken strips with aromatic Italian herbs, ensuring each piece is evenly coated with salt and pepper for enhanced flavor profile.
- Sear chicken pieces in the heated skillet, allowing them to develop a golden exterior while cooking thoroughly for approximately 7-8 minutes, then transfer to a waiting plate.
- Create a luxurious sauce by whisking together velvety heavy cream, rich chicken broth, and vibrant pesto in a separate mixing vessel, allowing ingredients to harmonize.
- Reintroduce the skillet to heat, adding another splash of olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Gently sauté diced onions until they turn translucent and release their sweet aromatics, approximately 2 minutes.
- Introduce minced garlic and sun-dried tomatoes, stirring continuously to prevent burning and unlock their intense flavors.
- Incorporate colorful bell peppers, cooking until they soften and develop a slight caramelization, roughly 4 minutes.
- Cascade the prepared pesto sauce into the skillet, bringing the mixture to a gentle, bubbling simmer.
- Carefully return the cooked chicken strips to the sauce, allowing them to warm and absorb the creamy mixture for an additional 2 minutes.
- Elevate the dish’s presentation by generously sprinkling freshly grated parmesan cheese and delicately chopped basil across the surface, adding depth and visual appeal.
Notes
- Discover a game-changing one-pan meal that transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-worthy dinner in just 20 minutes.
- Packed with vibrant sun-dried tomatoes and creamy pesto sauce, this chicken recipe delivers maximum flavor with minimal kitchen effort.
- Professional chef trick: letting sauce ingredients rest briefly allows flavors to develop deeper, more complex taste profiles before final cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg