Description
Juicy chicken breasts cooked in a creamy basil pesto sauce and served with sweet roasted tomatoes. This simple yet elegant dinner comes together quickly and pairs beautifully with pasta, rice, or crusty bread, offering a flavorful Italian-inspired meal perfect for any night.
Ingredients
Protein
- 4 chicken breasts or thighs
Vegetables
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Fats and Oils
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Seasonings
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Sauces and Dairy
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 3/4 cup heavy cream (or light cream as an alternative)
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F) to prepare for roasting the tomatoes.
- Roast Tomatoes: Toss the cherry tomatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread them out on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 20–25 minutes until the skins are blistered and tomatoes are soft and sweet.
- Season Chicken: While tomatoes roast, season the chicken breasts or thighs evenly with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Sear Chicken: Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden-brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes per side depending on thickness. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add minced garlic. Sauté briefly for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Make Sauce: Stir in the basil pesto and heavy cream to the skillet. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2-3 minutes, allowing flavors to blend and sauce to thicken slightly.
- Add Cheese: Mix in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is creamy and smooth.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the seared chicken to the skillet, spoon the creamy pesto sauce over each piece, and warm through for a couple of minutes.
- Serve: Plate the chicken topped with the roasted blistered tomatoes. This dish pairs well with pasta, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the flavorful sauce.
Notes
- You can substitute heavy cream with light cream for a lighter sauce.
- Adding fresh spinach to the pesto cream sauce is a great way to incorporate extra greens.
- Use chicken breasts for a leaner dish or thighs for more flavor and juiciness.
- For extra texture, sprinkle toasted pine nuts on top before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
