This Baked Pesto Chicken is a one-pan, quick, easy dinner that will elevate your weeknight routine. Combining tender, juicy chicken breasts with an herbaceous basil pesto, fresh tangy tomatoes, topped under a bed of melty mozzarella for a simple meal that is full of fresh flavors.
This pesto chicken bake expands simple ingredients into a flavorful, family-friendly dinner with almost no preparation.
For specifics on the recipe use the table of contents to click on sections of the recipe.
Jump to:
- Why Chicken Pesto Bake is a must make recipe
- Ingredients to make Pesto Chicken Bake
- Kitchen Tools Needed
- How to Make Baked Pesto Chicken
- Make-ahead, storage, and freezer tips
- Eileen's Tips for the best Chicken Pesto Bake
- Variations
- FAQs for the best Pesto Chicken Bake
- What to serve with Baked Chicken Pesto
- More Chicken Breast recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why Chicken Pesto Bake is a must make recipe
- Simple Ingredients: We use simple ingredients but deliver a fresh and flavorful meal.
- One-Pan: Everything bakes in one dish for easy cleanup.
- Family Friendly meal: It is an easy weeknight dinner that feels a little special.
- Classic Flavors: The pesto, tomato, and mozzarella make a delicious classic combination.
- Customizable: Delicious served with pasta, rice, gnocchi, or low-carb sides
This easy pesto chicken bake turns simple ingredients into a flavorful, family-friendly dinner with almost no prep.
If you love easy chicken dinners like this one, you might also enjoy slow cooker chicken birria tacos, chicken Caesar pasta salad, or Mexican chicken salad.
Ingredients to make Pesto Chicken Bake
- boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Italian seasoning
- nut-free basil pesto
- tomato slices
- mozzarella cheese
Kitchen Tools Needed
- 9x13 baking dish
- measuring spoons and cups
- silicone pastry brush
- instant read meat thermometer
- aluminum foil
How to Make Baked Pesto Chicken
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Sprinkle both sides of the chicken breasts with the Italian seasoning. Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish.
- Brush or spread the basil pesto over the top of each chicken breast until fully coated.
- Place one tomato slice in the center of each piece of chicken. Bake for 25 minutes.
- Top tomato with a slice of fresh mozzarella. Bake for another 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). (If the pesto begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover the dish with foil.)
- For a more golden top, broil very briefly for about 6 to 10 seconds. Let the chicken rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Make-ahead, storage, and freezer tips
Storage - Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Make ahead - You can season the chicken and add the pesto a few hours ahead of time. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake, then add the tomato right before baking.
Freezing - Freeze the cooked chicken in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. For best texture, add fresh mozzarella after reheating if possible.
Eileen's Tips for the best Chicken Pesto Bake
- Use chicken breasts that are similar in size so they cook evenly.
- Check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer so the chicken stays juicy.
- If the basil pesto begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover the dish with foil.
- Use fresh mozzarella for the best creamy, melty topping.
- Broil only for a few seconds and watch it closely since the cheese can brown very quickly.
- Do not skip the resting time after baking because it helps the juices settle back into the chicken.
Variations
Do you want to change up this recipe?
- Vegetables: Swap the tomatoes for sliced roasted red peppers.
- Cheese: Use provolone or shredded mozzarella instead of fresh mozzarella.
- Extra flavors: Add a little grated Parmesan on top before serving.
- Low-Carb: Serve the chicken over zucchini noodles for a lighter meal.
- Pesto: Try any of your favorite pestos like Kale Pesto or Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto.
- Add a few fresh basil leaves on top for extra flavor and color.
FAQs for the best Pesto Chicken Bake
Yes, boneless skinless chicken thighs work well here. Just adjust the cooking time as needed and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Be sure to use an instant-read meat thermometer.
Absolutely. Store-bought basil pesto works great and is a timesaver for this recipe.
What to serve with Baked Chicken Pesto
- This delicious baked chicken goes well with a simple pasta like fettuccine or spaghetti.
- You can also serve with a side of crusty French Bread or soft yeast rolls.
- Instant Pot Rice or garlic butter rice
- For a low-carb option, zucchini noodles.
- A fresh arugula salad
More Chicken Breast recipes
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If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card, you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
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Pesto Chicken Bake
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Equipment Needed:
Ingredients
- 4(6) ounce boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup basil pesto Note 1
- 4 slices tomatoes
- 4 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
- non-stick spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C. Spray the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Set aside.
- Sprinkle both sides of 4(6) ounce boneless skinless chicken breasts with 1 ½ Tablespoons Italian seasoning, and place in the prepared baking dish.
- Using a silicone pastry brush, put ¼ cup basil pesto over the top of each chicken breast until fully coated.
- Add 1 of the 4 slices tomatoes to the center of each chicken breast.
- Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, add one of the 4 slices fresh mozzarella cheese on top of each tomato.
- Return to the oven for an additional 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. If you prefer a more golden topping, broil for about 6 to 10 seconds. The internal temperature of the cooked chicken should be 165°F/74°C. (Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature)
- Remove from heat and cover with foil. Allow to sit for 10-15 minutes before serving. Great over pasta, orzo, gnocchi, or as a hero sandwich.
NOTES
Savory, tender chicken with a light, fresh Italian flavor.
The melted mozzarella adds a creamy texture to the dish.
Healthy dinner option!
Serve with pasta and fresh vegetables for a healthy dinner. Don’t forget to shop at the Everyday Eileen store on Amazon.
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