This Easy Baked Pesto Chicken is a recipe that you will want to add to your easy weeknight dinner rotation. It is a dish that the whole family will ask you to prepare again and again.
Layers of basil pesto, tomato, panko, and two types of cheese over a thin, boneless, skinless chicken breast. Delish!
This chicken dinner is so delicious you will not believe just how easy it is to prepare. And, if you are a pesto fan as much as we are, you are going to love it!
If you have a favorite homemade pesto recipe you like, go ahead and use it. For convenience, I like using store-bought pesto. But, there are some good ones and some not-so-good ones. My favorites are in the refrigerated section by the fresh pasta.
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Ingredients needed for chicken with pesto
- Chicken Breast - Boneless, skinless, thin cut chicken works best. You can pound a thicker cut if necessary.
- Olive Oil
- Panko Crumbs
- Mozzarella Cheese - I like the pre-shredded cheese for convenience, but go ahead and shred your own if you prefer.
- Parmesan Cheese - Again, I often buy the pre-shredded, but freshly shredded Parmesan can't be beat!
- Basil Pesto - Homemade is great! But for a quick meal I love the kind in the plastic containers in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Right next to the fresh pasta.
- Tomato - Roma or tomato on the vine work great.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic Powder
Other chicken and pesto recipes you might like
How to prepare this easy chicken recipe
- Set the oven temperature to 450 degrees F.
- Cover a baking dish with aluminum foil. This makes for very easy clean-up.
- Shred the cheeses if necessary.
- In a small bowl mix together the panko, mozzarella, Parmesan, and a little olive oil. Set aside.
- Slice the tomatoes. Set aside.
- Drizzle a little bit of olive oil on the baking sheet and then place the skinless chicken breast onto the baking sheet. Drizzle or brush with a little bit more olive oil over the top of the chicken breasts.
- Sprinkle the salt, pepper, and garlic powder over the chicken. Next, add a layer of the pesto sauce to the chicken.
- Add a layer of the tomato slices.
- Finally, add a heaping pile of the cheese and panko crumb mixture over each piece of chicken.
- Place chicken into the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, the panko is browned, and the chicken is cooked.
- The Baked Pesto Chicken should take about 12 - 15 to bake. Total cook time depends on the thickness of the chicken breast. I usually start keeping a close eye on the chicken after about 10 minutes of cooking time.
- Using a meat thermometer make sure the chicken reaches a temperature of at least 165 degrees F.
Step by step chicken dinner recipe with photos
- Set the oven temperature to 450 degrees F.
- Cover a baking dish with aluminum foil. This makes for very easy clean-up.
- Shred the cheeses if necessary.
- In a small bowl mix together the panko, mozzarella, Parmesan, and a little olive oil. Set aside.
- Slice the tomatoes. Set aside.
- Drizzle a little bit of olive oil on the baking sheet and then place the skinless chicken breast onto the baking sheet. Drizzle or brush with a little bit more olive oil over the top of the chicken breasts.
- Sprinkle the salt, pepper, and garlic powder over the chicken. Next, add a layer of the pesto sauce to the chicken.
- Add a layer of the tomato slices.
- Finally, add a heaping pile of the cheese and panko crumb mixture over each piece of chicken.
- Place chicken into the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, the panko is browned, and the chicken is cooked.
- The Baked Pesto Chicken should take about 12 - 15 to bake. Total cook time depends on the thickness of the chicken breast. I usually start keeping a close eye on the chicken after about 10 minutes of cooking time.
- Using a meat thermometer make sure the chicken reaches a temperature of at least 165 degrees F.
FAQ's and tips
Use thin-cut chicken breast for best results in this pesto chicken bake recipe.
Yes! It is unbelievably simple and tasty!
Maybe a side of garlic pasta, a simple salad, or a veggie like Oven Roasted Cauliflower.
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Recipe
Easy Baked Pesto Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds Chicken Breast thin cut
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- 4 Tablespoons Basil Pesto
- 2 Tomatoes sliced
- ½ cup Panko Crumbs
- ½ cup Mozzarella shredded
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- In a small bowl, mix the panko crumbs, mozzarella, Parmesan, and a couple teaspoons of the olive oil. Set aside.
- Drizzle baking sheet with olive oil and place the chicken on it. Drizzle a little more olive oil over the chicken.
- Sprinkle the salt, garlic, and pepper over the chicken.
- Spread a teaspoon of pesto over the chicken.
- Add a layer of sliced tomatoes.
- Top with a pile of the panko and cheese mixture.
- Bake the chicken for about 12 – 15 minutes or internal temperature of the chicken reaches a temperature of at least 165 degrees F.
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Nutrition
This recipe was adapted from a recipe by Laura in the Kitchen.
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