Description
This creamy pesto chicken recipe features tender chicken cutlets simmered in a luscious pesto cream sauce. With just five simple ingredients, it offers a quick, flavorful, and elegant meal perfect for any weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 large chicken breasts
- Salt & pepper to taste
Cooking Fat
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
Sauce
- 1/2 cup pesto (store bought or homemade)
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cut each chicken breast in half lengthwise to create 4 thinner cutlets. Season both sides lightly with salt and pepper, keeping salt minimal as pesto can be salty.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add chicken cutlets and sear for 5 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Make the Sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Add pesto and heavy cream to the skillet and stir until well combined, creating a creamy sauce.
- Simmer Chicken in Sauce: Return the chicken and any juices collected on the plate back to the skillet. Simmer gently for about 5 minutes, or until chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature and the sauce thickens. If the sauce reduces too quickly, add a splash of water, white wine, or low sodium chicken broth to maintain sauce consistency.
- Serve: Once cooked through and sauce is creamy and thickened, remove from heat and serve immediately, spooning sauce over the chicken cutlets.
Notes
- To avoid oversalting, season chicken lightly as pesto can be salty.
- Use homemade or high-quality store-bought pesto for best flavor.
- If sauce becomes too thick before chicken is cooked, add a splash of water, white wine, or low sodium chicken broth to loosen it.
- Cooking chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F ensures it is safe and juicy.
- Serve with pasta, rice, or steamed vegetables to complete the meal.
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
