Description
A delightful and creamy pesto chicken dish that’s perfect for dinner, featuring tender chicken cooked in a rich sauce with spinach and cherry tomatoes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 5–6 chicken breasts, thinly sliced (butterflied, sliced in half, or cut into tenders)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3 cups spinach, roughly chopped with stems removed
- 1/4 cup pesto (homemade or store-bought)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup lightly salted chicken stock
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Garlic powder, to taste
- Onion powder, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken by butterflying or slicing it into thinner pieces. Set aside.
- Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder evenly on both sides.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat and sear the chicken for 1-2 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Using the same pan, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, then add garlic, shallot, cherry tomatoes, and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 5 minutes until the tomatoes soften.
- Add spinach, pesto, heavy cream, and chicken stock to the tomato mixture; stir and bring to a gentle simmer for 2 minutes.
- Return the seared chicken to the pan, ensuring they’re nestled in the sauce. Simmer for another 2-3 minutes until fully cooked.
- Remove from heat once the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened. Serve over your choice of pasta, rice, or zucchini noodles, garnished with black pepper or grated Parmesan, if desired.
Notes
- Adjust the seasoning to taste as you cook.
- For a low-carb option, serve over zucchini noodles instead of pasta.
- Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg