Easy Baked Pesto Chicken

This easy baked pesto chicken is one of those healthy recipes that is full of flavor and will become a household favorite. Not to mention, it uses simple ingredients and only one baking dish!

Are you looking for new recipes? This baked pesto chicken recipe is a great weeknight dinner when you need to feed your family quickly.

Pesto is a pantry staple that I always have on hand and can also quickly come together if you want to make it from scratch. With only 5 simple ingredients, this recipe is a delicious, easy and healthy meal the entire family will love. 

Chicken is always a great protein that can be made with so many different flavor profiles. The possible substitutions for this recipe are endless and can be served with so many different simple sides.

This recipe is so easy you will want to make this meal over and over again.

What is Baked Pesto Chicken?

Easy baked pesto chicken is a simple recipe that uses simple ingredients that probably already have on hand.

Baking this dish makes the chicken so juicy and tender while the pesto adds a bold fresh flavor.

Melting fresh mozzarella cheese on top adds a creamy, salty finish that rounds out this beautiful dish. If you’re on a tight budget, grab a brick of mozzarella and add fresh shredded mozzarella instead.

Top it with tomato slices or bursting cherry tomatoes and you’ll have a fantastic one-pan dinner on the table in no time!

Why you’ll love this recipe

• This recipe is a classic and easy recipe that your entire family will love . With five simple ingredients you can easily make adjustments to fit your family’s taste. It will truly be one of the easiest chicken recipes you have in your recipe box.
• Having a simple chicken recipe like this one, will make meal planning easy. This dish can be served with so many different sides or a favorite salad so that you will never tire of this meal.
• Even picky eaters will love the flavors of this delicious dish. Who doesn’t love melty mozzarella?! 
• Since this meal only uses one baking dish, cleaning up will be just as quick and easy as this meal. 

Tell me about Baked Pesto Chicken

• Taste- Baking the chicken makes it juicy and tender while the pesto adds a bold bright flavor. Topping with crisp, fresh tomatoes and melted cheese, makes all the ingredients mix together beautifully. 
• Texture- With the tender chicken, smooth pesto, crisp tomato and melted cheese you have so many textures that makes this recipe come together beautifully.
• Ease- With simple ingredients and minimal preparation, this meal comes together quickly on any night of the week. 
• Time- This meal comes together in about 30-40 minutes. You can use pre-made pesto, to make this recipe even quicker to pull together in a pinch. 

Ingredients for Pesto Chicken

• Chicken – This recipe uses skinless, boneless chicken breasts, but you can use chicken thighs or chicken tenders. 
• Pesto – You can use whatever jarred pesto you like or you can even make your own. 
• Tomatoes – With summer almost here you may have a garden full of fresh tomatoes. Use whatever tomatoes you have on hand or suit your family’s taste. 
• Mozzarella – Using fresh mozzarella makes this recipe a real showstopper. The melted cheese on top rounds out all the flavors beautifully. 
• Basil – Adding basil to the top as a garnish really drives home the pesto flavor. If you don’t have any fresh basil you can omit or substitute with some green onions. 

Make Baked Pesto Chicken in 3 Easy Steps

1. Gather the ingredients– The most time consuming part is going to the grocery store and grabbing your ingredients. After that, this delicious meal comes together with little, to no, effort.
2. Add ingredients to baking dish– It’s that easy to make this pesto chicken bake recipe.
3. Bake for 20-25 minutes and Enjoy!– The size of your chicken breast will determine the cooking time, so use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is 165°F. The creamy pesto sauce and juicy chicken will be a recipe the whole family will devour!

Suggestions for Baked Pesto Chicken

Having this dish on hand for a quick weeknight meal plan that you can make multiple different ways.

• Sandwich- You could make this into a grilled baked pesto chicken sandwich with fresh focaccia bread or any other bread you have on hand. It will be a nice alternative to my grilled chicken sandwich that everyone loves.
• Side Dishes- Whip up your favorite sides for some easy dinner recipes. You can serve this with beautiful green salads, baked beans, roasted potatoes, over cauliflower rice or any vegetable you need to use. 
• Pasta- Serving with some noodles or orzo is also a great way to switch up this recipe. The possibilities are truly endless. The homemade pesto sauce also tastes great over angel hair pasta for an Italian flair.
• Bread- Bake up a no-fail crusty bread loaf and dip it in the delicious juice left behind from the basil pesto.

How do you store leftover Pesto Chicken?

This recipe can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. You can also cook the chicken ahead of time and put the cooked chicken into the freezer. Just thaw the chicken and add the toppings and follow the reheat instructions below. 

How to reheat leftover Pesto Chicken 

• Stovetop- Put leftover chicken in a frying pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat until warmed through, checking frequently. 
• Microwave- Put leftover chicken in a microwave safe dish and cover with microwave safe saran wrap. Cook in 30 second intervals until the chicken is warmed all the way through. 
• Oven- Cover with aluminum foil and heat until warmed through for approximately 20 minutes. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make baked pesto chicken ahead of time?

Absolutely. This is a great make ahead meal for those busy weeknights.  You can also cook the chicken ahead of time and put the cooked chicken into the freezer. Just thaw the chicken and add the toppings and cover with aluminum foil and heat until warmed through for approximately 20 minutes. 

What side can I serve with baked pesto chicken?

This recipe is so versatile that you can serve with almost any side dish. You can serve it with vegetables, a starch and have a really great meal. A simple side salad and fresh baked bread, sauteed green beans and some roasted potatoes, some buttered noodles and a steamed broccoli. This list goes on and on. 

Can this recipe be used with chicken thighs or other dark meat?

This is a very versatile recipe and works well with any skinless, boneless chicken meat. 

What can I add to my chicken pesto bake?

You can add some toasted bread crumbs for a bit of extra crunch, or some parmesan cheese for a substitute for the mozzarella. You could add some marinara sauce or white cream sauce to make the chicken saucier. You could even add a balsamic glaze to the top to add a great pop of flavor. 

Baked Pesto Chicken Recipe