Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Breakfast/ Brunch
    • Appetizer
    • Main Dish
    • Side Dish
    • Salad
    • Pasta
    • Dessert
    • Soup
    • Kid Friendly
    • Healthy Recipes
    • 30 Minute or Less
    • Sauces & Condiments
    • Bread
  • About Me
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Cookin' with Mima

Easy Delicious Bites

Privacy Policy Accessibility
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Breakfast/ Brunch
    • Appetizer
    • Main Dish
    • Side Dish
    • Salad
    • Pasta
    • Dessert
    • Soup
    • Kid Friendly
    • Healthy Recipes
    • 30 Minute or Less
    • Sauces & Condiments
    • Bread
  • About Me
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
  • Generic selectors
    Exact matches only
    Search in title
    Search in content
    Post Type Selectors
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Home » Main Dish » Creamy Pesto Chicken Recipe

Creamy Pesto Chicken Recipe

5 from 6 votes
Rate this Recipe
Total 25 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Serves 4 servings

By: Mariam Ezzeddine  |  March 3, 2021This post may contain affiliate links, read my disclosure policy for details

Jump to Recipe
Pin3K
Share
Yum

This Creamy Pesto Chicken is a restaurant quality meal that you can whip up in no time! Succulent chicken in a creamy pesto sauce, packed with flavor and bound to satisfy!

Top down view of creamy pesto chicken in a pan.

Creamy Pesto Chicken serves up pan fried chicken breasts in the most addictive, creamy basil pesto sauce! It’s a one pan meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Hearty, delicious and so easy to make.

Looking for other delicious chicken recipes? Why not also try my Asparagus Stuffed Chicken and my Creamy Chicken Alfredo Pasta Recipe!

Why you’ll love this Creamy Pesto Chicken

  • A delicious homemade pesto sauce. Creamy and delicious, this basil pesto sauce is made with cream, butter and chicken broth – giving it that restaurant quality depth of flavor.
  • Perfect chicken. Coated lightly in flour and pan fried, these chicken breasts are juicy in the middle with crispy edges.
  • An easy chicken recipe. Made in one skillet with pantry staples, this all comes together in less than 30 mins.

Ingredients you’ll need

  • Chicken Breasts
  • Salt & Pepper
  • All Purpose Flour
  • Olive Oil
  • Creamy Pesto Sauce: heavy cream, chicken broth, AP flour, butter, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, basil leaves, pesto.
Top down shot of ingredients for creamy pesto chicken.

How to make this Creamy Pesto Chicken

  • Pan sear the chicken – In a large skillet with oil, pan sear the seasoned chicken, about 5 mins per side. Set aside.
Pan frying chicken breasts in a pan.
  • Make the pesto sauce – In the skillet, add in your sauce ingredients – starting with butter and flour – and allow to simmer.
  • Butter and flour in a pan.
  • Pesto in a pan with flour.
  • Cream in a pan.
  • Combine – Add the chicken back in to the skillet with the sauce and simmer for 3-5 mins.
  • Pesto sauce in a pan.
  • Chicken in pesto sauce in a pan.
  • Garnish, serve and enjoy!
Top down view of creamy pesto chicken in a pan.

Recipe notes and tips

  • Lightly beat with a kitchen mallet if needed to even out the pieces. You want the chicken roughly the same thickness, for even cooking.
  • You can use jarred or fresh pesto from the grocer’s.
  • Be sure to season the sauce and taste it as you go!
  • You can use boneless chicken thighs, you may have to adjust the cook time slightly, to mkae sure the chicken is done.
  • To check your chicken’s doneness, ideally use a meat thermometer, stick it into the thickest part of the chicken, when it reads 165F, it’s done!
  • Garnish with basil leaves for an extra pop of color and freshness.

FAQ’s

What to serve with this Creamy Pesto Chicken

This easy chicken recipe plays well with all kinds of delicious side dishes. You can go with mashed potatoes, noodles or veggies and more! Here’s some ideas:

  • Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
  • Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes
  • Easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  • Caprese Portobello Mushroom

Storing Leftovers

You can store this pesto chicken in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you have leftover pesto, it will last in the fridge for up to 7 days.

Do I have to pan fry the chicken?

If you don’t want to pan fry your chicken, that’s fine! Feel free to grill the chicken, bake it or air fry the chicken then add it to the skillet once the sauce starts to simmer.

Overhead view of creamy pesto chicken in a skillet.

Other delicious chicken recipes

  • Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders
  • Crispy Buffalo Chicken Salad
  • Amazing Jalapeño Popper Chicken
  • Bruschetta Stuffed Chicken

I hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you, including this Creamy Pesto Chicken recipe. I hope you try it, enjoy it, rate it and share it with your friends and family!

If you try this recipe and like it, please use my hashtag to share it with me on INSTAGRAM for a chance to be featured in my story! Also, follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST for all of my latest social posts and recipes.

Top down view of creamy pesto chicken in a pan.

Creamy Pesto Chicken Recipe

5 from 6 votes
Created by Mariam E.
This Creamy Pesto Chicken is a restaurant quality meal that you can whip up in no time! Succulent chicken in a creamy pesto sauce.
Print
Pin
Rate
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings
servings

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 2 large chicken breasts cut in half, lengthwise
  • ⅓ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • 2 tbsps. all purpose flour
  • 2 tbsps. olive oil

Creamy Pesto Sauce

  • 1½ cup heavy cream
  • ¾ cup chicken broth low sodium
  • 1 tbsp. all purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp. butter
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
  • ½ tsp. basil leaves dry
  • ½ cup pesto sauce fresh, store bought
  • ¼ tsp. salt or more, taste first

Instructions

  • Slice the chicken breasts lengthwise to get 4 pieces. Lightly beat with a kitchen mallet if needed to even out the pieces. Season the chicken with some salt, pepper and flour.
  • Bring a large nonstick skillet to medium heat and add 1 tbsps. of olive oil. Sear the chicken on each side for 5 minutes until golden brown in color. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside. Cover with foil wrap.
  • In the same skillet, melt 1 tbsp. of butter and add in the flour. Mix to blend well. Once you have a smooth creamy texture, add in the heavy cream, chicken broth, salt, basil, spices and mix well. Let the sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes until it thickens up a little.
  • Add in the grated parmesan cheese and pesto sauce. Mix well and let the sauce simmer for about 1-2 minutes. Taste to make sure your salt and spices are to your liking.
  • Return the chicken back to the pan. Drench with some of the sauce and cover to simmer on low heat for 3-5 more minutes.
  • Remove from heat, garnish with some basil leaves and parmesan cheese (optional) and serve.

Notes

  • Lightly beat with a kitchen mallet if needed to even out the pieces. You want the chicken roughly the same thickness, for even cooking.
  • You can use jarred or fresh pesto from the grocer’s.
  • Be sure to season the sauce and taste it as you go!
  • You can use boneless chicken thighs, you may have to adjust the cook time slightly, to mkae sure the chicken is done.
  • To check your chicken’s doneness, ideally use a meat thermometer, stick it into the thickest part of the chicken, when it reads 165F, it’s done!
  • Garnish with basil leaves for an extra pop of color and freshness.

Nutrition

Calories: 756kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 61g | Saturated Fat: 28g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 214mg | Sodium: 976mg | Potassium: 593mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2200IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 278mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Rate the recipe below and mention @cookinwithmima and tag #cookinwithmima so I can see your recreations.
Pin3K
Share
Yum

Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply & Rate Recipe Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *
Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Welcome, I'm Mariam!

Cookin' With Mima blog is a place where you can find hundreds of easy and delicious family-friendly recipes that are bound to please even your toughest critics. My goal is to make your cooking experience a lot easier and yummier!

More About Mariam

Free Email Bonus!

5 Secrets to Delicious, Easy Meals!

Delicious Salads

Delicious Taco Ranch Pasta Salad

Taco Ranch Pasta Salad

A bowl of avocado chicken pasta salad with a fork and spoon in the bowl.

Chicken Avocado Pasta Salad

Greek Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe

Grilled chicken on spinach salad with fresh strawberries on a serving platter with balsamic dressing and pecans to the side.

Grilled Chicken Strawberry Salad

Burrata Fig Salad Keto friendly

Burrata Fig Salad

top down shot of watermelon feta salad in a bowl with a spoon

Watermelon Cucumber Feta Salad

Oatmeal Recipes

A stack of protein pancakes topped with banana slices.

Banana Protein Pancakes

Overhead view of a healthy chocolate chip oatmeal cookie with chocolate chips scattered around.

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

portion of a square baked oat topped with peanut butter, banana and strawberry

Baked Chocolate Oatmeal

close up shot of chocolate overnight oats in a cup topped with strawberries and spoon inside the cup

Chocolate Overnight Oats

How To Make Oat Milk

top down shot of no bake energy balls in a bowl

No-Bake Energy Balls

Huffpost
Forbes
Entrepreneur
The Drum
Inc

Footer

Cookin' with Mima
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
  • Accessibility
©2023 Cookin With Mima | Privacy Policy
Back To Top