Creamy Red Pesto Chicken

Total Time: 30 minutes

4.66 from 29 votes

One-skillet creamy red pesto chicken with cherry tomatoes. You’re in for a dinner that’s pure comfort. This chicken with sun-dried tomato pesto in a creamy garlic sauce is simply amazing, it infuses every single bite of this fail-proof dinner. 

Creamy Garlic Red Pesto Chicken

Why you’ll love this red pesto chicken recipe

The chicken is golden-brown on the outside, perfectly juicy on the inside and tastes like a dream when combined with that utterly delicious red pesto sauce. This dish comes together easily together in just about 30 minutes.

It feels fancy, yet requires hardly any effort to pull together, making it ideal for weeknights or for a last-minute dinner party.

The sauce is fragrant with plenty of garlic and made rich with cream and sun-dried tomato pesto, which adds a nice crunchy bite from the sunflower seeds and a surprising tang that keeps everything in balance.

Serve with some mashed potatoes, rice or bread to mop up that delicious sauce, because every bit of it is worth it.

Let me guide you through the recipe with this step-by-step VIDEO.

Creamy Garlic Red Pesto Chicken

Helpful tips

  • You can use boneless/skinless chicken thighs.
  • Serve with mashed potatoes, orzo, rice or some crusty bread and a simple side salad.
  • Swap the cherry tomatoes or add more veggies to the sauce like sun-dried tomatoes, bell peppers or spinach.

Storage and freezing

  • Keep leftovers stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • You may also want to freeze the leftovers. To do so, allow the chicken to cool before transferring it to freezer-friendly containers. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Creamy Garlic Red Pesto Chicken

More chicken, please! 

creamy garlic red pesto chicken
4.7 from 29 votes

Creamy Red Pesto Chicken

You’re in for a dinner that’s pure comfort. This chicken with sun-dried tomato pesto in a creamy garlic sauce is simply amazing, it infuses every single bite of this fail-proof dinner.

Prep 10 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 30 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 398

Ingredients 
 

  • 2 chicken fillets
  • 9 ounces cherry tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp oil from sun-dried tomatoes
  • 4 garlic cloves - minced
  • 1 onion - finely chopped
  • salt - to taste
  • black pepper - to taste
  • ½ tsp sweet paprika
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes - more or less to taste
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • ½ cup cream 20% fat - or half-and-half
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • 20 basil leaves
  • grated Parmesan - for serving (optional)
  • toasted sunflower seeds - for serving

Red pesto (equal to 1/2 cup store-bought pesto)

  • 1.5 ounces toasted sunflower seeds - or toasted pine nuts
  • 10 sun-dried tomatoes
  • 3 tbsp oil from sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 ounces grated Parmesan
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste

Instructions 

  • Make the pesto. Combine the ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend, until everything is thoroughly combined, but still has some texture.
  • Season the chicken fillets all over with sweet paprika powder, salt and pepper.Heat the oil and butter in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook, for 5-8 minutes per side or until fully cooked and browned on both sides. Remove from skillet and place on a plate. Cover with foil.
  • In the same skillet, add onion and garlic, cook until softened over low heat, about 2 minutes. Deglaze with 2 tbsp water. Add cherry tomatoes, cook for about 2 minutes or until the tomatoes start to burst. Press on the back of the tomatoes with a fork to release their juices and stir to combine.
  • Stir in tomato paste, season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Pour chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Stir in red pesto. Then add cream, stir to combine.
  • Add chicken back into the skillet. Allow to cook for 5 more minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is slightly thickened.
  • Stir in basil leaves and top with toasted sunflower seeds. Sprinkle with some red pepper flakes and grated Parmesan. Enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 398kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 34gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 116mgSodium: 833mgPotassium: 1483mgFiber: 5gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 2344IUVitamin C: 46mgCalcium: 217mgIron: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was below!


Comments

14 responses to “Creamy Red Pesto Chicken”

  1. Lara J Avatar
    Lara J

    5 stars
    I love your recipes! They are always flavourful and fun! I hope you can also include nutrition info for your recipes if it’s not too much to ask :) Thank you for sharing your recipes with us

    1. So glad you are enjoying the recipes! Thanks for following along and your feedback!

  2. Chris W Avatar
    Chris W

    I’m making this tonight! It looks and sounds great!

    1. Fantastic! Enjoy the recipe!

  3. Danielle Avatar
    Danielle

    5 stars
    Added roasted red peppers when I added the tomatoes bc I had them in the fridge.. recipe was delicious!

    1. Love hearing that you enjoyed this recipe, I really appreciate you gave it a try!

  4. Amber Avatar
    Amber

    5 stars
    I made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! Lovely sauce

    1. It make me so happy to hear that Amber!

  5. Michèle Avatar
    Michèle

    5 stars
    One of the many fantastic and easy recipe .

    1. Thank you Michèle!

  6. Joanna Avatar
    Joanna

    5 stars
    I made it last night, it was delicious!

    1. Thank you Joanna!

  7. 5 stars
    It is absolutely scrumptious – have made it several times now and it never fails to please :-)

    1. It makes me so happy to hear that Christina!

4.66 from 29 votes (23 ratings without comment)

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