Creamy Pesto Baked Chicken
A delightful dish that combines tender chicken breasts with a luscious blend of cream cheese and basil pesto, perfect for impressing family and friends.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-45 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1½ pounds)
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese (softened)
- 1/3 cup basil pesto
- 1+ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh chopped tomatoes and basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375° F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, mix the softened cream cheese and basil pesto until creamy and smooth.
- Place the chicken breasts in the greased baking dish, making sure they are evenly spaced.
- Generously spread the creamy pesto mixture over each chicken breast.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the chicken.
- Bake uncovered for 30-45 minutes until the chicken is cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Optionally, garnish with fresh chopped tomatoes and basil before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
You can swap out mozzarella for other cheeses like cheddar or a dairy-free alternative. For deeper flavor, marinate the chicken in pesto beforehand.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
Find it online: https://www.tastysavvy.com/creamy-pesto-baked-chicken/