Description
Succulent cheesy pesto baked chicken delivers Mediterranean flavors in one elegant dish. Simple ingredients combine for a quick, satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup (120 g / 4.2 oz) basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup (100 g / 3.5 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup (25 g / 0.9 oz) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Fresh basil leaves (for garnish)
- Cherry tomatoes (optional, for baking alongside the chicken)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 200C (400F) and lightly oil a baking dish to prevent chicken from adhering during cooking.
- Seasoning and Coating: Thoroughly dry chicken breasts, then generously season with salt and black pepper. Spread a uniform layer of pesto sauce across each piece, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Cheese Application: Create a luxurious topping by sprinkling a blend of mozzarella and parmesan cheese over the pesto-coated chicken, generating a rich and golden crust.
- Roasting Process: Carefully arrange chicken in the prepared baking dish, maintaining spacing for consistent heat distribution. Roast in the preheated oven for 22-25 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 74C (165F).
- Resting and Serving: Allow the chicken to rest for 3-5 minutes after removing from the oven, enabling juice redistribution. Enhance the presentation by garnishing with fresh basil leaves, adding a vibrant and aromatic final flourish before serving.
Notes
- Perfectly Dry Chicken: Pat chicken breasts thoroughly with paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring a crispy and golden exterior during baking.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Let cheese cool slightly after baking to prevent immediate sliding off and create a beautifully structured cheesy topping.
- Temperature Precision: Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken has reached exactly 74C (165F) for safe, juicy results without overcooking.
- Pesto Selection Matters: Choose a high-quality, fresh pesto with robust basil and olive oil for maximum flavor intensity in the final dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg