Baked Pesto Chicken

Posted on | January 24, 2011 | 10 Comments |

Pesto Chicken

I just got back from a weekend of total binge in Portland with four foodies, where we consumed enough calories to survive an entire week. So tonight I needed something light and green, and this baked pesto chicken with a simple arugula salad is exactly what the doctor prescribed. You can use any kind of pesto for this, even store-bought ones. I made a quick one with some walnuts, pine nuts, basil, garlic and lemon. I have a ton of pesto recipes on this blog, feel free to use any of those for this.

Once you have the pesto, rest is very simple. Just sear the chicken breast on the stove top, coat liberally with the pesto on both sides and transfer to a 400F oven and cook for 30 mins, voilà, your dinner is ready! If you really need a step-by-step recipe, scroll down to the bottom.

Food-2011

Ingredients

3/4th cup pesto (store bought or use one of these pesto recipes)
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp vegetable oil
Salt and pepper for seasoning

Method

Wash the chicken breasts and pat dry with paper towels. Create three deep gashes on one side with a sharp knife. Pre-heat the oven to 400F

Grease a large oven-proof grill pan or sauté pan with the vegetable oil. Place the pan on the stove and when it is smoking hot, place the chicken breasts with the gashed sides on top. Season well with salt and pepper. Let the chicken sear for 3 minutes, then turn it over. Spread half of the pesto on the seared side. After searing the other side for 3 minutes, switch off the stove and turn the chicken breasts over. Now spread the remaining pesto on the gashed side, making sure to push as much of the pesto as you can into the gashes.

Transfer the pan to the oven and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove from the oven, and slice horizontally into thin strips and serve over a salad for a quick dinner.

Category: Chicken, Dinner Recipes, Phase 1, Quick-fix healthy meals

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Comments

10 Responses to “Baked Pesto Chicken”

nags
January 24th, 2011 @ 11:10 pm
Reply

recently tried psto at home and loved it!
http://www.organictables.com
January 25th, 2011 @ 3:57 am
Reply

This post just made me hungry! I love everything about this dish. And I can’t wait to try it.
Arch
January 25th, 2011 @ 6:34 am
Reply

Love the step-by-step pics…The first pic is superb…I tried fish curry with mango and the fried fish for dinner a couple of days back, from the book you sent me…it was really yum ! Thanks so much for the book again…
aartee
January 25th, 2011 @ 8:20 am
Reply

Wow.Sig, thats a very simple looking dish, but am sure its gonna be delicious….will try it soon.
nancy@skinnykitchen
January 25th, 2011 @ 8:57 am
Reply

Anytime a bunch of foodies get together it’s a blast!
This baked chicken recipe sounds very yummy…
Raul
January 26th, 2011 @ 7:20 pm
Reply

Another fan of your Recipes from Malaysia.

Cheers!
Lakshmi
January 31st, 2011 @ 10:23 am
Reply

When I see a recipe like this, I think how can I make the same as vegetarian. Looks yummm
Miri
February 20th, 2011 @ 10:24 pm
Reply

Arugula to the baked chicken must have been a nice addition – I just posted an arugula and shrimp recipe and it was a very nice combination as well.
Ingrid
April 5th, 2011 @ 5:28 pm
Reply

This is a truly delicious recipe, and so easy, if you already know how to make pesto. I will be making this a lot from now on. Thanks!
Carol
February 17th, 2013 @ 4:14 pm
Reply

south beach phase 1 hase been getting boring…this can save the day!