Pesto Packet Chicken Recipes

PESTO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place oven rack to the center position. Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Drizzle both sides of the chicken breast with olive oil. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Place chicken in an ovenproof baking dish or skillet.
• Bake in preheated oven until the internal temperature of the chicken is no longer pink and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, about 15 to 18 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the pesto. Place the basil and spinach in a resealable plastic bag. Use a rolling pin to lightly bruise the herbs and greens. Transfer to a food processor or blender.
• Heat a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Toast garlic until the outsides are lightly browned, shaking pan occasionally, about 8 minutes. Peel garlic and add to food processor.
• Place walnuts in the same pan and toast over medium heat, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to food processor.
• Add 1/2 teaspoon salt to the food processor.
• Process pesto by pulsing five times to help break down the greens.
• Turn food processor on low speed, as it's running slowly drizzle in 1/2 cup olive oil until a smooth pesto with some smaller pieces is formed, about 10 seconds from start to finish.
• Add the parmesan cheese to the pesto and process on low speed for 5 seconds.
• Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired. Transfer pesto to a small bowl.
• Brush some pesto sauce on each cooked chicken breast. Transfer to a serving platter.
• Top chicken with chopped walnuts, tomatoes, and cheese. Serve extra pesto sauce on the side.

PESTO CHICKEN BAKE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400˚F (200˚C).
• Place chicken breast in a baking dish. Season chicken with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Spread pesto on each chicken breast.
• Layer tomatoes on top of the chicken.
• Top with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake for 40 minutes.
• Enjoy!

CHICKEN PESTO PACKETS

Steps:

• In a heavy weight large piece of foil, lay the chicken breast add salt and pepper, top with zucchini and tomatoes, and then pesto.
• Roll foil ends together to form packet.
• Grill on medium high heat for 20 minutes, turning after 10 minutes.

FOIL PACKED PESTO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place 1 chicken breast half, 2 sliced tomatoes and 1 sliced zucchini in each packet.
• Spoon 2 Tablespoons of basil pesto over each chicken.
• You can use 8 18 x 12 inch sheets of heavy duty foil if you don't want to purchase the foil packets.
• Make sure you double fold ends by folding 1/2 inch and then repeating the 1/2 inch fold.
• Remember to leave space on sides for circulation and expansion.
• Cover and grill packets 4 to 5 inches from medium heat.
• Cook 20 to 25 minutes or until juice of chicken is no longer pink.
• To serve, cut a large"X" across top of packet to let steam escape.
• This also can be cooked in a 375 degree oven for 25 minutes or until juices run clear.

PESTO CHICKEN RECIPE WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Pat chicken breast cutlets dry and season with salt and pepper on both sides. (Boneless skinless chicken breasts can be used, simply cut them in half horizontally so that you have thinner pieces. Watch the video to see how I do this).
• In large cast iron skillet, heat a little bit of extra virgin olive oil (about 2 tbsp) until shimmering but not smoking in a cast iron skillet. Add chicken to the heated skillet and cook over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, turning over once. Remove from the skillet and set aside for now.
• If needed, add a little bit more extra virgin olive oil to the skillet. Add zucchini, bell peppers, onion, and grape tomatoes. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes or so, tossing occasionally, until the veggies have softened.
• In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, mix together the basil pesto and cream.
• Add the chicken back to the skillet. Pour the pesto and cream mixture in. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for a minute or so.
• Remove the skillet from the heat, add lemon juice and lemon zest. Add pine nuts and fresh basil for garnish. Serve hot with your favorite grain or plain orzo pasta.

CREAMY PESTO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Season chicken with salt and pepper, and rub chicken with the basil pesto.
• Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet.
• Add chicken to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes on each side, or until thoroughly cooked.
• In the meantime, prepare the sauce by combining flour, garlic, basil pesto, evaporated milk, salt, and pepper in a mixing cup or bowl; whisk until thoroughly combined and set aside.
• Remove chicken from skillet.
• Return skillet to heat and stir in the tomatoes. If pan is dry, add a little more olive oil.
• Cook the tomatoes over medium-high heat for about 1 minute, or until just beginning to soften
• Add the prepared sauce to the skillet and bring to a boil.
• Place the chicken back in the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until heated through.
• Remove from heat.
• Garnish with cheese and basil ribbons.
• Serve with pasta, rice, and/or salad.

PESTO PACKET CHICKEN

Steps:

• In saucepan, combine dry pesto mix with water and olive oil.
• Cook 5 minutes.
• In individual pieces of aluminum foil, place one chicken breast half and equal amounts of veggies.
• Sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper.
• Spoon 4 Tbsp.
• of pesto mixture over each packet and fold up.
• Place in 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare pasta according to pkg.
• and drain.
• Add about 3/4 of remaining pesto mixture to pasta and toss well.
• To serve, place serving of pasta on each dish and dump the packet of chicken and veggies over top.
• Serve with leftover pesto mixture (opt.), and grated parmesan cheese, if desired.

PESTO CHICKEN AND POTATOES IN PARCHMENT PACKETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Slice potato very thinly, about 1/8-inch thick. Place slices in a bowl of water to prevent browning.
• Fold parchment paper in half to create two 15x12-inch rectangles. Drain potatoes and arrange 1/2 of the slices on the inside fold of the parchment paper in an overlapping semicircle. Season with salt and pepper. Top with 5 basil leaves and 1/2 of the onion slices. Repeat with the second piece of parchment paper.
• Place chicken legs over the onion slices, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and top with pesto. Carefully fold the parchment paper around the chicken, starting from one end, to create sealed packets. Transfer packets to a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until juices run clear, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Transfer packets to plates and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before opening and serving.

BASIL PESTO CHICKEN SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Boil spaghetti according to packet directions in salted water. Drain; reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
• Meanwhile, cook pesto chicken and tomatoes using this recipe.
• Add to pesto mixture to the cooked spaghetti with 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss over low heat until well combined. Divide amongst serving bowls. Slice chicken breasts and arrange over the spaghetti. Top with parmesan. Serve warm.

CHICKEN PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt to taste. Cook the pasta according to package directions.
• Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat.
• Place the chicken in the pan and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through. Add the garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for 1 minute.
• Drain the pasta and pour it into the pan with the chicken. Add the pesto and toss to coat evenly.
• Add the cherry tomatoes and gently fold them into the pasta.
• Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and parsley. then serve.

PESTO CHICKEN PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the pasta to package instructions. Drain the pasta and immediately rinse with cold water. Drain the pasta, transfer to a large bowl and set aside. Allow the pasta to cool completely.
• In a medium sized bowl toss together all the ingredients until evenly combined (pasta, chicken, basil, pesto, olive oil, sun dried tomatoes, parmesan cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, & pepper).
• Add optional toppings (pine nuts, extra parmesan, red pepper flakes). Chill before serving.