Weeknight dinners just got a major upgrade. If you’re looking for a recipe that’s fast, incredibly flavorful and requires minimal cleanup, you’ve found it. This Creamy Pesto Chicken is a game-changer. It’s the kind of meal that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen but it comes together in under 30 minutes in a single skillet.
What makes this dish so beloved? It’s the perfect marriage of vibrant, nutty basil pesto and luscious heavy cream, creating a sauce that’s simply irresistible. Paired with juicy, golden-brown chicken and bursting cherry tomatoes, every bite is a delightful explosion of flavor and texture. This isn’t just another chicken dinner; it’s a recipe you’ll come back to again and again for its simplicity and crowd-pleasing power.
Table of Contents
Creamy Pesto Chicken
What You’ll Need for Creamy Pesto Chicken
Here’s the short and sweet list of ingredients for this showstopper of a meal:
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Boneless, skinless chicken breast | ~1.3 lbs (about 2 large breasts) |
| Salt | 1/8 tsp |
| Black Pepper | 1/8 tsp |
| Olive Oil | 2 Tbsp, divided |
| Garlic, minced | 2 cloves |
| Grape Tomatoes | 1 pint, sliced in half |
| Heavy Cream | 1/2 cup |
| Pesto | 1/4 cup |
Let’s Get Cooking Creamy Pesto Chicken: Step-by-Step Instructions
Ready to see how easy this is? Let’s walk through it.
Step 1: Prep the Chicken
First things first, let’s get the chicken ready. To ensure it cooks quickly and evenly, either slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to create four thinner cutlets, or pound them to an even thickness and then cut each breast in half. Season both sides of your chicken pieces with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Step 2: Sear the Chicken to Perfection
Place a large skillet over medium heat. Once it’s nice and hot, add one tablespoon of the olive oil. Swirl the pan to coat the bottom. Carefully place the seasoned chicken in the skillet. Cook for about 3-5 minutes on each side, until it’s beautifully golden brown and cooked all the way through. Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a clean plate and set it aside for a moment.
Step 3: Sauté the Aromatics and Tomatoes
Lower the heat to medium-low. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet. Toss in the minced garlic and the halved grape tomatoes. Sauté for about five minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when the tomatoes start to soften and break down, releasing their sweet juices.
Step 4: Create the Creamy Pesto Sauce
Now for the magic. Pour the heavy cream and pesto into the skillet with the tomatoes. Stir everything together until it’s well combined. Let the sauce come to a gentle simmer. This is a good time to give it a taste and add a little more salt or pepper if you think it needs it.
Step 5: Bring It All Together
Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, nestling it into that gorgeous sauce. Turn the chicken pieces to make sure they get fully coated. Let it all simmer together for a few more minutes, just long enough for the chicken to heat through. Serve immediately and get ready for the compliments to roll in!
Secrets to Success in Creamy Pesto Chicken
Here are a few extra tips to make your Creamy Pesto Chicken even more spectacular:
- Serving Suggestions: This dish is fantastic served over pasta (fettuccine or penne are great choices) but it’s equally delicious with zucchini noodles, fluffy rice, or even creamy polenta to soak up all that amazing sauce. A side of steamed asparagus or a simple green salad completes the meal perfectly.
- Ingredient Swaps:
- No heavy cream? You can use half-and-half for a slightly lighter sauce.
- Pesto power: Feel free to use your favorite store-bought pesto to save time, or whip up a batch of homemade if you’re feeling ambitious!
- Add some greens: Stir in a handful of fresh spinach at the end of cooking until it wilts for an extra dose of nutrients.
- A Personal Note: Don’t be afraid to let the tomatoes get really soft and jammy in step 3. This adds a wonderful depth of flavor and sweetness to the sauce that balances the richness of the cream and pesto.
Frequently Asked Questions About Creamy Pesto Chicken
How can I make my pesto sauce even creamier?
The heavy cream in this recipe is the key to its creaminess. For an even richer texture, you could stir in a tablespoon of cream cheese or a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese along with the heavy cream and allow it to melt completely into the sauce.
Do you put pesto on chicken before or after cooking?
For this recipe, we add the pesto to the sauce after the chicken is cooked. This preserves the fresh, vibrant flavor of the basil. If you were to cook the chicken with the pesto on it, the heat could cause the fresh herbs to darken and lose some of their bright taste. Both methods work but for a truly “creamy pesto” flavor, adding it to the sauce at the end is the way to go.
What’s the difference between Alfredo sauce and creamy pesto?
The primary difference lies in their base flavors. A classic Alfredo sauce is a rich, creamy sauce made from butter, Parmesan cheese and heavy cream. Its flavor is cheesy and savory. Creamy pesto, on the other hand, starts with the foundational flavors of pesto basil, garlic, pine nuts and olive oil and then incorporates cream to create a richer, smoother sauce. So, while both are creamy, Alfredo is cheese-forward and creamy pesto is herb-and-garlic-forward.
What other meats go well with a creamy pesto sauce?
This creamy pesto sauce is incredibly versatile! It’s fantastic with shrimp, scallops, or even salmon. It also pairs wonderfully with Italian sausage or thinly sliced prosciutto.
We hope you love this easy and elegant Creamy Pesto Chicken! It’s a true testament to the fact that you don’t need a lot of time or a long list of ingredients to create a truly memorable meal. If you give this recipe a try, we’d love to hear how it turned out. Leave a comment below or share it with a friend who needs a new weeknight favorite!
