Best 5 Pesto Presto Chicken Rachael Ray Recipes

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Indulge in the vibrant flavors of Pesto Presto Chicken, a culinary delight that combines the aromatic freshness of pesto with the succulent juiciness of chicken. This versatile dish, brought to you by the renowned chef Rachael Ray, offers a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. Let's embark on a culinary journey as we explore the delectable variations of this pesto-infused chicken masterpiece.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH ARUGULA PESTO



Grilled Chicken with Arugula Pesto image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

1/4 cup sliced or slivered almonds or shelled pistachios
1 cup packed fresh arugula leaves
1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 clove garlic, grated or minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 small pieces boneless, skinless chicken breast (tenders removed)

Steps:

  • Heat a grill pan to high.
  • Toast the nuts lightly in small skillet over low heat, then add them to a food processor.
  • Add the arugula, basil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt and pepper, to taste, and pulse to combine.
  • With the processor on, stream in the extra-virgin olive oil to form thick pesto.
  • Lightly pound out the chicken, then rub all sides with the pesto. Spray the grill pan with cooking spray or rub with a little oil and grill the chicken 2 to 4 minutes on each side.
  • Cook's Note: Serve sliced on top of Caesar Spaghetti or, pile it onto ciabatta bread with sliced tomatoes and mozzarella for an outta-sight sammy.

PESTO PRESTO CHICKEN (RACHAEL RAY)



Pesto Presto Chicken (Rachael Ray) image

This is one of her recipes taken from her new book "Look + Cook" with a slight modification. I was unable to get the Boursin Cheese at our local store, so used Recipe #80675

Provided by Lori Mama

Categories     Chicken

Time 45m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
10 basil leaves, fresh
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
5 1/2 ounces boursin cheese, garlic and herb
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper
4 boneless skinless, chicken breasts
12 slices tomatoes

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 450 degrees.
  • In small bowl of a food processor, combine first 6 ingredients, except only use 1/4 cup of the Parmesan.
  • Set aside.
  • Butterfly the chicken breasts.
  • Divide the cheese mixture on the chicken.
  • Fold as with a book.
  • Place on a non stick baking sheet.
  • Bake for 15 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and place 3 slices of the tomatoes on each breast.
  • Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan.
  • Return to oven and bake another 15 minutes.

PESTO CHICKEN SKILLET SUPPER



Pesto Chicken Skillet Supper image

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 16m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 large zucchini, halved and sliced into 1/4-inch half-moons
1 large summer squash, halved and sliced into 1/4-inch half-moons
2 cups chopped kale
1/2 cup yellow cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup red grape tomatoes, halved
2 ears corn, shucked and kernels removed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup store-bought basil pesto
1/4 cup heavy cream
Juice of 1/2 lemon
One 5-ounce Parmesan wedge, grated

Steps:

  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil to the skillet, throw in the chicken and brown on all sides, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove and reserve.
  • Add the onions, zucchini and squash and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes. Move those vegetables to the edges of the skillet and add the kale, tomatoes, corn and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the kale turns bright green, an additional, 1 to 2 minutes.
  • In a small bowl, stir together the pesto and cream.
  • Return the chicken to the skillet along with any juices. Add the pesto cream and reduce the heat to medium. Cook, stirring, for an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and grated Parmesan. Enjoy.

INSTANT PESTO TORTA WITH BREAD AND VEGETABLES



Instant Pesto Torta with Bread and Vegetables image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     appetizer

Time 10m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

Vegetable spray
4 pieces sun-dried tomatoes
4 leaves fresh basil
3 tubs, 6 ounces each, soft garlic and herb cheese (recommended: Alouette brand)
1/4 cup sun-dried tomato tapenade
1/4 cup prepared basil pesto
1 baguette or whole grain baguette, pre-sliced at the bread counter
Handful baby carrots
Handful grape tomatoes

Steps:

  • Line a small shallow dish or bowl with plastic wrap or waxed paper. Coat wrap with vegetable spray. Arrange a pattern in bottom of the dish using the sun-dried tomatoes and basil. Add 1 1/2 tubs of garlic and herb cheese (about half a pound) to the dish and smooth over, then layer in the sun-dried tomato spread and the pesto. Spread the remaining cheese on top of the pesto. Place a serving plate over the bowl and invert the bowl. Hold on to the edges of the waxed paper or wrap to release the cheese. Remove the waxed paper or plastic wrap. Arrange the sliced baguette along 1 side of the torta.
  • Arrange carrots and tomatoes along the opposite side of the torta.

CRISPY CHICKEN CUTLETS WITH BASIL-PARSLEY SAUCE



Crispy Chicken Cutlets with Basil-Parsley Sauce image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 33m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 28

2 pounds chicken cutlets
Salt and pepper
3 to 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/3 to 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano, a couple of handfuls
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
1 clove garlic
1 (3-ounce) jar pine nuts (pignoli)
1 lemon, zested
2 eggs, beaten
Olive oil, for shallow frying
1 cup loosely packed basil leaves
1/2 cup loosely packed parsley leaves
1/2 lemon, juiced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
1 Roma or plum tomato, seeded and finely chopped, for garnish
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 cup arborio rice
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
3 to 4 cups chicken stock, 1 quart size box, available in soup aisle of the market
1/4 to 1/3 cup grated Parmigiano, a generous handful
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 cup tiny frozen peas

Steps:

  • Season the cutlets with salt and pepper on both sides turn lightly in flour.
  • Combine next 7 ingredients in food processor and pulse-process the crumbs to chop the spices, garlic and nuts and evenly distribute the flavors throughout the crumb and cheese mixture. Transfer the mixture to a plate. Beat eggs in a separate shallow dish.
  • Heat a thin layer of oil in a large skillet, just enough to coat the bottom of the pan, over medium to medium high heat. Coat the cutlets in eggs then breading and add to the hot oil. Cook cutlets in a single layer, in 2 batches if necessary, about 3 or 4 minutes on each side, until cutlets' juices run clear and breading is evenly browned.
  • Return food processor bowl to base and add basil, parsley and lemon juice. Add a little salt and pepper. Turn processor on and stream in oil until a loose paste forms.
  • Serve chicken cutlets with a generous amount of basil and parsley sauce poured over the cutlets. Garnish the chicken with finely chopped Roma tomato. Serve Cheesy Risi e Bisi alongside.
  • Heat a medium skillet over medium high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil and garlic and onion and saute, stirring constantly 2 to 3 minutes then add rice and season with a little salt and pepper. Cook another minute or so then add wine and let it completely absorb, 30 seconds. Add about 1 cup chicken stock and stir. Reduce heat a bit to medium. Stir often and continue adding a half cup of liquid each time liquid becomes completely absorbed. Cook 22 minutes, using as much stock as is necessary to result in creamy-consistency rice with a bite to it.
  • When rice is cooked to desired consistency, remove from heat and stir in cheese, parsley and peas and stir to combine and to heat peas through.

Tips:

  • For the best flavor, use fresh basil leaves. If you can't find fresh basil, you can substitute dried basil, but use half the amount.
  • If you don't have pine nuts, you can substitute walnuts or almonds.
  • If you don't have Parmesan cheese, you can substitute another hard cheese, such as Romano or Asiago.
  • To make the pesto ahead of time, simply combine all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender and pulse until smooth. Store the pesto in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
  • To make the chicken, simply flatten the chicken breasts to an even thickness, season them with salt and pepper, and then cook them in a skillet over medium heat until cooked through. Serve the chicken with the pesto on top.

Conclusion:

Pesto Presto Chicken is a quick and easy weeknight meal that is packed with flavor. The pesto is made with fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, and it is tossed with cooked chicken breasts. The dish is served over pasta or rice, and it can be garnished with additional basil leaves or Parmesan cheese.

This recipe is a great way to use up leftover pesto, and it is also a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables. The pesto is a delicious and nutritious way to add flavor to chicken, and the pasta or rice provides a filling and satisfying base for the dish.

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