Best 6 Chicken With Pesto Cream Sauce Recipes

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Indulge in a culinary journey with our delectable chicken recipes, each featuring a unique and flavorful pesto cream sauce. From the classic combination of basil pesto to the tangy sun-dried tomato pesto, these dishes promise an explosion of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. Whether you prefer tender chicken breasts or succulent chicken thighs, we have a recipe that will satisfy your cravings.

**Variations:**

- **Classic Chicken with Pesto Cream Sauce:** Experience the timeless flavors of basil pesto combined with a creamy sauce, creating a harmonious balance of fresh herbs and rich dairy.

- **Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Chicken:** Embark on a Mediterranean adventure with sun-dried tomato pesto, adding a vibrant tang and subtle sweetness to the creamy sauce.

- **Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Chicken:** Discover a symphony of flavors with roasted red pepper pesto, infusing the dish with smoky, sweet, and slightly spicy notes.

- **Spinach Pesto Chicken:** Embrace the goodness of spinach pesto, offering a vibrant green hue and a boost of nutrients, while maintaining a creamy and flavorful sauce.

- **Arrabiata Pesto Chicken:** Experience the fiery passion of Arrabiata pesto, bringing a spicy kick to the creamy sauce, sure to ignite your taste buds.

- **Creamy Mushroom Pesto Chicken:** Indulge in the earthy flavors of creamy mushroom pesto, combining tender mushrooms with a velvety sauce for a rich and satisfying dish.

- **Chicken Pesto Pasta:** Elevate your pasta game with chicken pesto pasta, where tender chicken and flavorful pesto come together in a creamy sauce, coating every strand of pasta perfectly.

- **Pesto Chicken and Vegetables:** Enjoy a wholesome meal with pesto chicken and vegetables, where tender chicken and an array of colorful vegetables are smothered in a luscious pesto cream sauce.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

PESTO CHICKEN RECIPE WITH VEGETABLES



Pesto Chicken Recipe with Vegetables image

One-pan chicken pesto and vegetables makes the perfect weeknight meal in 20 minutes! I recommend homemade pesto for this recipe, but you can totally use store-bought pesto for a shortcut if you need to.

Provided by Suzy Karadsheh

Categories     Main Course

Number Of Ingredients 13

1.5 lb chicken breast cutlets
Salt and Pepper
Extra virgin olive oil
1 zucchini (cut into half moons)
1 red bell pepper (cored and cut into strips)
½ red onion (sliced)
1 cup about 5 oz grape tomatoes
1/3 cup basil pesto ((homemade or store-bought) )
1/3 cup cream
Juice of ½ lemon
Zest of 1 lemon
Toasted pine nuts for garnish (optional)
Fresh basil for garnish (optional)

Steps:

  • Pat chicken breast cutlets dry and season with salt and pepper on both sides. (Boneless skinless chicken breasts can be used, simply cut them in half horizontally so that you have thinner pieces. Watch the video to see how I do this).
  • In large cast iron skillet, heat a little bit of extra virgin olive oil (about 2 tbsp) until shimmering but not smoking in a cast iron skillet. Add chicken to the heated skillet and cook over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, turning over once. Remove from the skillet and set aside for now.
  • If needed, add a little bit more extra virgin olive oil to the skillet. Add zucchini, bell peppers, onion, and grape tomatoes. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes or so, tossing occasionally, until the veggies have softened.
  • In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, mix together the basil pesto and cream.
  • Add the chicken back to the skillet. Pour the pesto and cream mixture in. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for a minute or so.
  • Remove the skillet from the heat, add lemon juice and lemon zest. Add pine nuts and fresh basil for garnish. Serve hot with your favorite grain or plain orzo pasta.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 245.8 kcal, Carbohydrate 4.6 g, Protein 25.7 g, Fat 13.3 g, SaturatedFat 4.6 g, Cholesterol 91.8 mg, Sodium 269.2 mg, Fiber 1.1 g, Sugar 2.5 g, ServingSize 1 serving

CHICKEN WITH PESTO CREAM SAUCE



Chicken with Pesto Cream Sauce image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Yield 2 Servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 chicken breasts (3 ounces each), cut into 1-inch chunks
Salt and black pepper
1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
1 cup prepared pesto
½ cup white wine
1½ cups heavy cream
Penne or fettuccine, cooked and drained
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Steps:

  • 1. Spray skillet with cooking spray. Season chicken with salt and black pepper, as desired. Cook chicken over medium-high heat, about 5 minutes, until no longer pink in center. Remove from pan; set aside. 2. Cook bell pepper in skillet 3 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Return chicken to skillet. 3. Stir pesto into skillet. Add wine and cream. Cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring occasionally. 4. Add pasta; stir. Toss pasta with chicken and bell peppers. Serve warm, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if desired.

CHICKEN FETTUCCINE WITH PESTO CREAM SAUCE



Chicken Fettuccine with Pesto Cream Sauce image

Use our Basil Pesto to whip up this crowd-pleasing creamy pasta dish.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Pasta and Grains

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 6

3 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (6 to 8 ounces each)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 pound fettuccine
4 cubes (1/2 cup) frozen Basil Pesto
1/4 cup heavy cream

Steps:

  • Place chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap. With a meat mallet or heavy skillet, pound chicken to an even 3/4-inch thickness. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet; cook the chicken until golden brown and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Slice each piece across the grain into 4 or 5 strips; cover to keep warm.
  • Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1/4 cup cooking water. Drain pasta and return to pot.
  • In a small saucepan, heat pesto over low until liquefied. Stir in cream; heat until warm. Toss pasta with reserved cooking water and half the sauce. Divide among shallow bowls; top with chicken. Drizzle with remaining sauce.

CREAMY PESTO CHICKEN



Creamy Pesto Chicken image

All the flavors of Italian pesto (fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, and garlic) in a simple creamy sauce. Also works well with thinly sliced pork tenderloin. Add a splash of milk or cream for a slightly thinner sauce. Serve over rice or pasta with extra Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top.

Provided by JODIE4

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 30m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into strips
4 large cloves garlic, sliced
3 ½ tablespoons sherry
¼ cup pine nuts
½ cup chopped fresh basil
1 (8 ounce) container reduced fat sour cream
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the chicken for about 5 minutes, until lightly browned. Mix the garlic and sherry into the skillet. Cook and stir until all the liquid has been reduced and the chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.
  • Mix the pine nuts into the skillet, and cook 2 to 3 minutes over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low, and mix in the basil, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, and pepper. Continue cooking until heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 311.4 calories, Carbohydrate 7.7 g, Cholesterol 86 mg, Fat 17.9 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 28.6 g, SaturatedFat 6.6 g, Sodium 210.1 mg, Sugar 0.5 g

PHENOMENAL CHICKEN AND PASTA IN CREAMY PESTO SAUCE



Phenomenal Chicken and Pasta in Creamy Pesto Sauce image

An extremely delicious meal: the crunch of pine nuts and the tang of sun-dried tomatoes combine with chicken and pasta in a heavenly pesto cream sauce. Be sure to taste and salt before serving, because depending on what kind of chicken broth you use, the dish may require no salt at all or may be extremely under-salted.

Provided by GILL846

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Chicken

Time 55m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 21

2 cups fresh basil
3 cloves garlic
⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
⅓ cup pine nuts
1 medium ripe tomato, chopped
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup chicken broth
1 cup white wine
2 tablespoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1 (16 ounce) package dried penne pasta
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 large onion, diced
1 tablespoon sugar
½ (8 ounce) jar oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and sliced
⅓ cup pine nuts
½ cup white wine
1 cup heavy cream
salt to taste

Steps:

  • Place basil, garlic, Parmesan, pine nuts, and tomato in a food processor. Gradually add olive oil, while pulsing, until mixture is smooth and creamy.
  • In a bowl, stir together chicken broth, 1 cup white wine, dried basil, oregano, and minced garlic. Stir in chicken pieces.
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until just al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain, and rinse under cold water. Toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Set aside.
  • Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onions, and sprinkle with sugar. Cook until the onions are soft and translucent. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts, and cook about 3 minutes. Stir in chicken and marinade. Stir in 1/2 cup white wine. Simmer chicken pieces, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
  • Add pasta and pesto to the skillet. Stir in cream, and cook until the sauce is thickened. Adjust salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, and serve with freshly grated Parmesan.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 943 calories, Carbohydrate 71.1 g, Cholesterol 126.7 mg, Fat 49.9 g, Fiber 5.7 g, Protein 45.7 g, SaturatedFat 15 g, Sodium 220.6 mg, Sugar 7.5 g

CHICKEN WITH PESTO CREAM



Chicken with Pesto Cream image

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 35m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons pine nuts
4 cloves garlic, sliced
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, for pesto, plus 2 tablespoons, for chicken
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons salted butter
1 small red onion, sliced
2 bunches rainbow chard, leaves torn, thick, bottom half of stalks discarded
1 lemon, juiced
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 cup mixed yellow and red cherry tomatoes, halved

Steps:

  • In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, add the basil, Parmesan, pine nuts, half of the garlic, salt and black pepper and pulse to combine. With the food processor running, drizzle in the 1/3 cup olive oil until the sauce comes together and is smooth. Set aside.
  • Slice the chicken breast in half horizontally so you have 8 thinner cutlets. Sprinkle both sides of each cutlet with salt and pepper.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon each butter and olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the cutlets and cook through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove to a plate. Repeat with the remaining cutlets.
  • Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil along with the red onion and remaining sliced garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the rainbow chard and cook, stirring, until lightly wilted, about 1 minute. Add the lemon juice and stir for an additional 30 seconds. Remove to a plate.
  • Without cleaning the skillet, add the cream and heat for 1 minute. Stir in about a third of a cup of the pesto and return the chicken to the pan. Bring to a simmer and allow to thicken, 1 to 2 minutes. (Refrigerate the remaining pesto in an air tight container for up to 5 days.)
  • Make a bed of rainbow chard on a large platter. Top with the chicken cutlets and drizzle the sauce over the top. Sprinkle with the tomatoes and serve.

Tips:

  • For a richer flavor, use homemade pesto sauce. It's easy to make and only takes a few minutes.
  • If you don't have heavy cream, you can substitute milk or half-and-half. However, the sauce will be thinner.
  • To make the sauce even creamier, add a tablespoon of butter or cream cheese.
  • If you like a little heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the sauce.
  • Serve the chicken with your favorite sides, such as pasta, rice, or roasted vegetables.

Conclusion:

This chicken with pesto cream sauce is a quick and easy meal that's perfect for a weeknight dinner. The chicken is tender and juicy, and the sauce is creamy and flavorful. Plus, it's a great way to use up leftover pesto sauce. So next time you're looking for a simple but delicious chicken recipe, give this one a try. You won't be disappointed.

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