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Chicken breasts marinated in pesto served in a bowl.

The Best Pesto Marinated Chicken Recipe

This pesto marinated chicken is quick to prep, full of bold flavor, and perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep. The secret is a fresh, nut-free basil pesto that keeps the chicken juicy and tender while adding tons of flavor.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 280

Ingredients
  

For the Marinade:
  • ½ cup fresh basil packed
  • ¼ cup spinach or other greens
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lemon juiced
  • 2 Garlic cloves
  • ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • Salt to taste
Chicken:
  • 2 large chicken breasts about 1 lb, sliced in half horizontally to make 4 thinner pieces
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Make the pesto: In a food processor or high-speed blender, combine the basil, spinach, lemon juice, garlic, and parmesan cheese. Blend while drizzling in the olive oil until mostly smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Add salt to taste.
  2. Prep the chicken: Slice each breast in half horizontally to create 4 thinner cutlets for quicker, more even cooking. Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. Then, add the chicken to a bowl or ziplock with the pesto. Allow the chicken to marinate for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
  3. Cook the chicken: Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 4–5 minutes per side, or until golden and cooked through (internal temp should reach 165°F). Remove from heat.
  4. Serve: Serve the pesto chicken in a pesto chicken bowl or with your favorite sides like roasted veggies, pasta, or quinoa. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 27gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 815mgPotassium: 468mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 420IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 94mgIron: 1mg

Notes

The pesto marinade is 1/2 portion of my fresh basil pesto sauce recipe with a little extra lemon juice!
If you prefer, you can use store-bought pesto, but you will want to add extra olive oil and the juice of a lemon to make it smoother and coat the chicken better.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!