I’m a huge fan of this fast and easy to make Baked Creamy Pesto Chicken. Life is busy and I don’t have time to make recipes that involve lots of steps, fancy equipment or ingredients. This recipe takes about 5 minutes of prep time and in 30 minutes I can have a delicious meal on the table.
This creamy pesto chicken recipe is so versatile. Your whole family will love it!
Ingredient notes for Creamy Pesto Chicken
Pesto sauce – use your favorite store bought or make your own homemade pesto
Cream cheese – I used regular cream cheese but light cream cheese also works well
Boneless, skinless chicken breast – I used chicken breasts but this is just as delicious using other cuts of chicken from thighs to drumsticks
Shredded mozzarella cheese – don’t have shredded cheese on hand? Use sliced mozzarella for this recipe. Just split the slice of cheese in half and lay over the chicken.
Tomato – I diced a plum tomato. Use your favorite kind of tomato in this recipe.
How to make Creamy Pesto Chicken:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a bowl combine the cream cheese and pesto sauce. Stir until well combined.
Place the chicken breasts in a 9 X 13 baking dish.
Divide the cream cheese mixture evenly between the chicken breasts. Spread the cream cheese mixture to cover the chicken.
Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and divide the cheese evenly over the chicken. Top each piece of chicken with diced tomatoes.
Return the chicken to the oven and bake for another 10 to 20 minutes until the juices run clear or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of the chicken breast reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
What is pesto sauce made of?
Pesto can be made a variety of ways but the kind usually found in most grocery stores is made from fresh basil, pine nuts, olive oil and parmesan cheese. The ingredients are pureed together to make the pesto sauce.
You may find other types of pesto sauce that include different nuts, cheese or other ingredients such as tomatoes and citrus. Just about any type of pesto sauce you find will taste delicious with chicken.
What type of pesto should you use?
I have tried this recipe with a variety of store bought pesto. They all came out delicious. Use your favorite brand or even your own homemade pesto.
Can I use a different type of cheese?
Sure you can use other types of cheese in this recipe including Provolone, Parmesan or even feta cheese. They all taste delicious with the creamy pesto sauce.
What do I serve this with?
Serve with your favorite side dish such as cauliflower rice, cauliflower mashed potatoes, salad and low carb vegetables.
Looking for traditional ways to serve this dish? Try it:
- Over your favorite pasta
- Over mashed potatoes
- Dice the chicken up and serve as a topping for baked potatoes
- Even better, try them over mashed sweet potatoes
- With salad and your favorite vegetable on the side
Trying to watch your carbs? Try it:
- Over cauliflower rice
- Over spaghetti squash
- Over cauliflower mashed potatoes
- With a green salad topped with Italian dressing
- With your favorite low carb vegetables on the side
No matter what your family’s eating style is this dish is ALWAYS a hit. Made with a few simple ingredients, it doesn’t take long to put it together before you bake it in the oven.
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Baked Creamy Pesto Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 ounces pesto
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese at room temperature
- 1 – 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 tomato diced, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a bowl combine the cream cheese and pesto sauce. Stir until well combined.
- Place the chicken breasts in a 9 X 13 baking dish.
- Divide the cream cheese mixture evenly between the chicken breasts. Spread the cream cheese mixture to cover the chicken.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of the chicken breast reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the baked chicken. Top with diced tomatoes.
- Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Nutrition
Looking for some other delicious chicken recipes to try? Check these out:
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Easy? Yes!
Delicious? Yes!!
Need I say more!!
Definitely going on the dinner rotation!
Thank you!!