This pesto chicken is made with baked or grilled chicken breast and homemade basil pesto! With only 2 main ingredients, this low-carb dinner is perfect for a weeknight meal.

sliced pesto chicken on plate

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Easy 2-Ingredient Pesto Chicken

This pesto chicken recipe is one of the easiest chicken breast recipes on my blog and one of my favorites too. Grilled pesto chicken is a lightly seasoned grilled chicken breast with a basil pesto marinade. That’s it! Pure, simple, healthy and so, so tasty!

It comes together in under 20 minutes from start to finish which is great for weeknights. It’s flavorful and pairs well with so many different sides, like this sheet pan gnocchi. Or add some grilled veggies, a light chopped salad, rice, or serve with skillet potatoes. The options are endless!

How to Make Pesto Chicken

chicken with pesto in bowl
  • Marinate chicken. Place chicken in bowl. Add salt and pepper on top. Then pour in pesto and toss until combined. Let sit to marinate while the grill is heating up.
  • Grill. Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium high heat. Once heated, add the chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side or until the center is no longer pink and it reaches 165°F. Turn down the heat if browning to fast.
  • Rest. Remove to a plate and let rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing to let the juices absorb. Add extra pesto on top. Slice and serve while warm.

Tips & Variations

  • There’s no long marinating time but do allow it to sit in the sauce while the grill heats up.
  • Add the chicken to a hot pan, not before. This way the chicken breast won’t stick to the skillet.
  • Allow the chicken to rest before slicing to ensure the juices settle and they don’t lose moisture by cutting into it too soon.
  • Make a homemade basil pesto quickly and easily. You can also buy store bought, which is what I have done before.
  • Add a couple of slices of tomato on top of the pesto for another layer of flavor. Or even a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Yum!
  • Cheesy mozzarella pesto chicken. Sprinkle some freshly grated mozzarella on top of the chicken for the last 10 minutes of cooking time, whether on the stovetop or in the oven. You can also add it right after remove chicken from the grill, then cover the pan and let chicken rest.

Ways to Serve Basil Pesto Chicken

I love a simple side of roasted tomatoes but there are a ton of different ways to go about completing this meal including adding pasta like I do in my creamy chicken pesto pasta!

FAQS

What is pesto?

Pesto is a versatile sauce that can be used for pasta, as a dip, a spread, and as a marinade. Originating in Italy, it’s traditionally a simple combination of basil, pine nuts, garlic, salt, and Parmigiano or Pecorino. These are then blended with olive oil and made into a sauce. It’s herbaceous, nutty, smooth and creamy, garlicky and so so yummy. You can even make vegan pesto!

Can I make this dish in the oven?

You can! Making baked chicken breast is just as easy. Place chicken breasts on a baking sheet and bake for 35-40 minutes in a preheated oven at 400°F until the internal temperature reads 165°F.

Why is my pesto oily?

Some brands, if you haven’t made it yourself, will come with a lot of extra oil. This is why I like using the Kirkland brand at Costco, as I find it’s not runny and holds well.

Can I make this dish ahead?

If you’re not ready to grill quite yet, you can marinate the chicken in the sauce for up to 12 hours ahead of time. It makes an even faster way to get dinner on the table!

How to use the leftovers?

As delicious as this is as a main meal warm right off the stove, it’s also great as a salad topping. Cold (or warm) cut up chicken and pesto on top of greens, makes a salad taste amazing! It also tastes delicious served over cooked pasta.

sliced pesto chicken on plate with vegetables

Use leftover pesto to make chicken pesto pasta salad, easy spinach pesto pizza or white chicken lasagna with pesto, a fun twist on classic lasagna.

More Chicken Breast Recipes

sliced pesto chicken on plate

Pesto Chicken

5 from 3 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
Servings: 4
This pesto chicken is made with baked or grilled chicken breast and homemade basil pesto! With only 2 main ingredients, this low carb dinner is perfect for a weeknight meal.
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Ingredients 

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ⅓ cup basil pesto , plus 1/4 cup for serving
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Place chicken in bowl. Add salt and pepper on top. Then pour in pesto and toss until combined. Let sit to marinate while the grill is heating up.
  • Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium high heat. Once heated, add the chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side or until the center is no longer pink and it reaches 165°F. Turn down the heat if browning to fast.
  • Remove to a plate and let rest for atleast 5 minutes before slicing to let the juices absorb. Add extra pesto on top. Slice and serve while warm.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Baking in oven: You can also bake this pesto chicken in the oven. Preheat oven to 400°F and then place on a baking sheet. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the center reaches 165°F. You could also add mozzarella cheese the last 10 minutes of baking. 
For serving: I love to serve this chicken with roasted tomatoes or sheet pan pesto gnocchi. 
Pesto: You can make a homemade basil pesto or a lot of times I’ll buy the Kirkland brand from Costco. 

Nutrition

Calories: 209kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 74mg, Sodium: 324mg, Potassium: 418mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 451IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 39mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.