Description
Creamy Pesto Chicken is a simple yet elegant dish featuring tender chicken cutlets simmered in a rich, silky pesto cream sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe uses just a handful of ingredients to deliver big flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 large chicken breasts
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
For Cooking
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
Sauce
- 1/2 cup pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cut each chicken breast in half lengthwise to create 4 thinner cutlets. Season them lightly with salt and pepper, keeping salt minimal or skipping it to balance the saltiness of the pesto.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the chicken cutlets and sear for 5 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove chicken and set aside on a plate.
- Make the Sauce: Reduce heat to medium and add pesto and heavy cream to the same skillet. Stir the mixture until smooth and combined, scraping up any browned bits from the chicken.
- Simmer to Finish: Return the chicken and any plate juices back into the skillet. Simmer gently for about 5 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the sauce thickens. If the sauce reduces too much during cooking, add a splash of water, white wine, or low sodium chicken broth to loosen it.
Notes
- This recipe is quick and easy to prepare, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
- Use light salt or omit it initially because pesto can be quite salty.
- If you prefer a thinner sauce, add a splash of broth or wine during simmering.
- Leftover pesto cream sauce can be used as a delicious pasta sauce or dip.
- For a healthier twist, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half but note the sauce will be less rich.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 507 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 460 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg
