Eating low-carb is easy with this Healthy Pesto Chicken Recipe that the entire family will love. Top chicken breasts with just 3 more ingredients, bake in the oven and dinner is done!
It's one of those recipes that almost isn't a recipe because it's so easy. Layer and bake. The ingredients are more or less and the results are always spectacular.
If you like that sort of thing, then check out Mediterranean Chicken Bake and Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken. They're included in our Low-Carb Baked Chicken Recipes collection.
Ingredients
If you have a jar of pesto in the refrigerator, then an easy AND tasty dinner is never far away. This ingredient is on my list of pantry staples for healthy eating.
You'll also need:
- Chicken Breasts - select chicken breasts that are not too thick (or pound them down just a little) so they will cook quickly.
- Pesto Sauce - any type of sauce that you already enjoy will work. Make it fresh or buy a jar at the grocery store.
- Tomato - sliced. We often use Roma tomatoes and pile several rounds on each piece of chicken.
- Mozzarella Cheese - shredded
Parmesan Cheese is optional except at my house!
BIG TIP: For perfect chicken every time, use a meat thermometer and cook to an internal temperature of 165°F.
Is pesto healthy?
Traditional pesto is made with basil leaves, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, and Romano or Parmesan-Reggiano cheese. Those ingredients are pretty healthy in my book! It's lower in carbs too.
Of course, healthy depends on your personal situation. Luckily, there are many variations of pesto sauce including options like nut-free basil pesto and sun-dried tomato pesto.
If you have some extra pesto sauce, check out Phyllo Wrapped Salmon with Pesto and Cheese, which can also be made with chicken!
Sides to serve
Healthy Pesto Chicken has an Italian vibe to it. So, here are some pairings that would be wonderful:
- Green beans
- Zucchini
- Roasted potatoes
- Risotto
- Salad greens with an amazing dressing like this Homemade Italian Dressing by Shugary Sweets
- Garlic bread!
Make ahead and freeze tips
You can assemble pesto chicken ahead of time and freeze it BEFORE you bake it!
When you have all the ingredients out, assemble it in an aluminum tin or baking dish that you can freeze. Cover it up with the top or aluminum foil and plastic wrap. Label and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
When you are ready to enjoy the recipe, remove it to the refrigerator to defrost overnight and then bake according to the directions.
Please rate this recipe and tag @DinnerMom or #DinnerMom on social media. We love to see what you are cooking up!
📋 Recipe
Healthy Pesto Chicken Recipe - Just 4 Ingredients!
Ingredients
- 20 ounces chicken breast
- 4 Tablespoons pesto sauce
- 1 tomato sliced
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- Parmesan cheese, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place chicken breast in a baking dish or on a baking sheet.
- Top each chicken breast with 1 Tablespoon pesto sauce, 1-2 slices of tomato and 2 Tablespoons of mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if using.
- Bake, uncovered, for about 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Notes
Nutrition
Taryn
SO simple but SO good! Thanks for the recipe!
Jennifer Farley
You can't beat this! 4 ingredients and delicious!
Nini
Not only deliciously easy to assemble, but an appetizing presentation 😋😋😋
Marjory Pilley
Thank you so much for your comment!
D Long
It's always such a pain to cook just for two when you're used to cooking for a big family. This was easy and tastes delicious. I used bottle pesto sauce and then I had a small package of gnocchi that I used as a side dish with the rest of the pesto, adding in an easy Arugula salad. YUM.
Marjory Pilley
I'm so glad you enjoyed it...and thank you for the complete meal idea. Sounds delicious!