Best 4 Grilled Pesto Marinated Chicken Recipes

Grilled Pesto Marinated Chicken is an incredibly flavorful and juicy dish that will tantalize your taste buds. Marinated in a vibrant blend of pesto, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs, the chicken is grilled to perfection, resulting in a tender and succulent interior with a crispy, charred exterior. Accompanying the chicken are three tantalizing recipes: an aromatic Grilled Vegetable Skewers recipe, a refreshing and tangy Pesto Vinaigrette recipe, and a creamy and flavorful Pesto Pasta Salad recipe. These recipes come together to create a complete and satisfying meal that is perfect for a summer cookout or a weeknight dinner.

Let's cook with our recipes!

GRILLED PESTO CHICKEN KABOBS

Grilled Pesto Chicken Kabobs image

Pesto can sometimes be overpowering, but not in this recipe! Using it in a marinade adds the wonderful flavors of basil and garlic, without taking away from the natural flavors of the chicken and vegetables.

Provided by Kim's Cooking Now

Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Chicken Chicken Breast Recipes

Time 4h30m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

¼ cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons cooking sherry
2 tablespoons prepared pesto
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 (8 ounce) package mushrooms
1 small zucchini, cut into chunks
1 medium red onion, cut into chunks
12 grape tomatoes
6 metal skewers

Steps:

Whisk oil, sherry, pesto, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together in a glass bowl. Add chicken pieces and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours to overnight.
Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
Thread marinated chicken, mushrooms, zucchini, red onion, and tomatoes alternately onto skewers. Reserve remaining marinade.
Place kabobs onto the preheated grill, and cook, turning occasionally and brushing with the reserved marinade, until chicken is cooked and juices run clear, 10 to 15 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 262.5 calories, Carbohydrate 6.4 g, Cholesterol 66.3 mg, Fat 14.5 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 26.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.9 g, Sodium 327.3 mg, Sugar 1.8 g

MARINATED PESTO CHICKEN

Marinated Pesto Chicken image

A friend of mine brought this recipe back from her travels to the Mediterranean. She actually cooks the chicken on a barbecue. She roasts the vegetables while the chicken in marinating if she hasn't marinated the chicken overnight. The chicken in cooked on the cooler part of the barbecue.

Provided by Chrissyo

Categories Fruit

Time 1h25m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

100 g firmly packed fresh basil
4 garlic cloves
50 g freshly grated parmesan cheese
50 g toasted pine nuts
80 ml lemon juice
250 ml olive oil
4 chicken breast fillets

Steps:

Place the basil, garlic, Parmesan, toasted pine nuts and lemon juice in a food processor and process until combined.
Gradually add the olive oil, with the processor still running, and process until smooth.
Reserve 3/4 cup of the pesto.
Coat the chicken fillets with the remaining pesto and marinate for at least 1 hour, or overnight if time permits.
Place the chicken on a tray and cook under a medium grill (broil) for 5 minutes on each side, or until cooked, brushing with any remaining marinade during the cooking.
Serve with roasted vegetables, (such as eggplant, capsicum, red onion) and the reserved pesto.

CHICKEN PESTO SANDWICHES

Chicken Pesto Sandwiches image

These easy sandwiches are great for game day! They're tasty, and also so easy to prep ahead and assemble later at the event. Colleen Sturma - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Lunch

Time 30m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)
3/4 cup prepared pesto, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
12 slices Italian bread (1/2 inch thick), toasted
1 jar (12 ounces) roasted sweet red peppers, drained
1/4 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into six slices

Steps:

Flatten chicken to 1/4-in. thickness. Spread 1 tablespoon pesto over each chicken breast; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill chicken, covered, over medium heat for 3-5 minutes on each side or until no longer pink., Spread 3 tablespoons pesto over six slices of toast; layer with red peppers, chicken and cheese. Spread remaining pesto over remaining toast; place over top.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 495 calories, Fat 21g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 86mg cholesterol, Sodium 1048mg sodium, Carbohydrate 34g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 37g protein.

GARLIC-GRILLED CHICKEN WITH PESTO ZUCCHINI RIBBONS

Garlic-Grilled Chicken with Pesto Zucchini Ribbons image

The first time I substituted zucchini noodles for regular pasta, it was because I was trying to reduce carbohydrates and calories. Now I make them because we love the flavor and texture they bring to dishes. This dish is just as delicious if you substitute shrimp for the chicken. -Suzanne Banfield, Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)
ZUCCHINI MIXTURE:
4 large zucchini (about 2-1/2 pounds)
1/4 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1/4 cup prepared pesto
4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Steps:

In a large bowl, mix the first five ingredients. Add chicken; turn to coat. Let stand 15 minutes., Meanwhile, for noodles, trim ends of zucchini. Using a cheese slicer or vegetable peeler, cut zucchini lengthwise into long thin slices. Cut zucchini on all sides, as if peeling a carrot, until the seeds become visible. Discard seeded portion or save for another use., Grill chicken, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat 4-5 minutes on each side or until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 165°. Remove from grill; keep warm., In a large nonstick skillet, heat tomatoes and olive oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic, salt, pepper flakes and pepper; cook and stir 30 seconds. Add zucchini; cook and stir 2-3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove from heat. Stir in pesto., Cut chicken into slices. Serve with zucchini noodles. Top with mozzarella.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 397 calories, Fat 18g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 116mg cholesterol, Sodium 636mg sodium, Carbohydrate 14g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 44g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

Tips:

Use a food processor or blender to make the pesto marinade. This will help to create a smooth and flavorful marinade that will evenly coat the chicken.
If you don't have a food processor or blender, you can chop the basil, parsley, and garlic by hand. Just be sure to chop them very finely so that they will blend well with the other ingredients in the marinade.
Use a large bowl to marinate the chicken. This will help to ensure that the chicken is evenly coated with the marinade.
Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, but no longer than 24 hours. This will give the marinade time to penetrate the chicken and flavor it.
Grill the chicken over medium-high heat. This will help to create a nice sear on the outside of the chicken while cooking it through on the inside.
Serve the grilled pesto marinated chicken with your favorite sides, such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a salad.

Conclusion:

Grilled pesto marinated chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion. The pesto marinade adds a ton of flavor to the chicken, and the grilling process creates a nice sear on the outside while cooking the chicken through on the inside. This dish is sure to be a hit with everyone at your table!