Description
Easy Baked Pesto Chicken is a quick and flavorful dish featuring juicy chicken breasts topped with a creamy pesto mayo sauce and crispy panko breadcrumbs. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect weeknight dinner or casual meal.
Ingredients
4 chicken breast halves (about 1.25 pounds)
Salt and pepper, to taste
⅓ cup Hellman’s or Best Foods Mayonnaise
⅓ cup basil pesto
3 tablespoons breadcrumbs (panko is best)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and coat with nonstick spray.
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper.
- Assemble the Chicken: Lay the chicken on the baking sheet. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise and pesto. Spoon the pesto mixture over the chicken, saving some for serving later.
- Add the Breadcrumbs: Sprinkle panko breadcrumbs evenly over each chicken breast.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the chicken reaches 165°F internally and juices run clear.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
Notes
For grilled chicken, simply grill the chicken breasts instead of baking them.
For extra flavor, add vegetables like spinach, bell peppers, or zucchini to the pesto sauce.
For a cheesy version, sprinkle mozzarella or Parmesan on top of the chicken during the last few minutes of baking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
