Grilled Pesto Chicken
Of course, we used expensive sun-dried tomatoes and fresh-made pesto, but I had to improvise. The dish is still delicious and so much less expensive than I expected! Yay!
Of course, we used expensive sun-dried tomatoes and fresh-made pesto, but I had to improvise. The dish is still delicious and so much less expensive than I expected! Yay!
- Carbohydrate 0 g
- Cholesterol 68.44 mg
- Fat 1.4632 g
- Fiber 0 g
- Protein 27.2462 g
- Saturated Fat 0.3894 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (118g)
- Sodium 76.7 mg
- Sugar 0 g
- Trans Fat 0.3894 g
- Calories 130 calories
Step-by-step
- Trim any excess fat from the chicken breasts. Cut each chicken breast into two pieces. Cut diagonally to make each piece a diamond shape. If you have a mallet, pound out the breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap until they are 1/2 inch thick. If you do not have a mallet, you will just have smaller, thicker chicken pieces.
- Preheat your counter-top grill. Salt and pepper the breast pieces. Once the grill is hot, grill the pieces for 6-7 minutes or until cooked through.
- Turn your oven to the broil setting. Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with nonstick spray. When the breast pieces are finished grilling, place them on the prepped cookie sheet. Spread 1 Tbsp of pesto over each breast. Lay 2 or 3 slices of tomato on top of the pesto. Then top with a 1 oz. slice of mozzarella for each.
- Broil the chicken breasts, watching closely. Remove from the oven when the cheese has fully melted and there are a couple browned edges (approximately 5 minutes).
- Your Grilled Pesto Chicken is ready!
Grilled Pesto Chicken: A Weeknight Winner
As a busy working mom, finding time to cook delicious and healthy meals can feel like a Herculean task. Between juggling work deadlines, school pick-ups, and keeping the house afloat, the last thing I want to do is spend hours in the kitchen. That's why I'm always on the lookout for quick, easy, and – most importantly – flavorful recipes that the whole family will enjoy. This Grilled Pesto Chicken recipe is a perfect example. It’s a total game-changer in my weeknight dinner routine.
I stumbled upon this recipe while browsing through some food blogs, and honestly, I was initially intimidated. The ingredient list mentioned "expensive sun-dried tomatoes and fresh-made pesto," words that immediately conjured images of spending a small fortune at the gourmet grocery store. But then I saw the "I had to improvise" note and realized it wasn't about using the *most* expensive ingredients. The focus was really on a method to create something delicious and relatively quick, regardless of exact ingredients. This realization was a massive relief! I experimented with what I had on hand - jarred sun-dried tomatoes, store-bought pesto (a decent quality one) and some wonderfully juicy Roma tomatoes from the farmer's market and the results were incredible! The dish was a flavor explosion, far surpassing my expectations, proving that creating stunning food is about skill and technique, not just the price tag of the items.
What makes this recipe so amazing? First, it’s unbelievably versatile. You can easily adapt it to whatever you have in your pantry or fridge. Don't have Roma tomatoes? Use cherry tomatoes, or even sliced bell peppers for a beautiful color contrast. Feeling adventurous? Add some spinach or caramelized onions. The pesto is the real star here, but even if you're short on time or don't feel like making your own, a good quality store-bought pesto will do the trick. I also appreciate its adaptability regarding cooking equipment. A stove top grill provides a tasty char that’s so easy to achieve, but my family loves how quickly this dish comes together, even with a standard oven!
Secondly, this recipe is incredibly simple. The grilling process takes only a few minutes, and broiling the chicken with the pesto and mozzarella creates the most amazing melted, gooey cheese topping – a true flavor delight! The total prep time is under 15 minutes and the cooking time is equally short. This recipe fits perfectly into my busy schedule, leaving me with more time to spend with my family. We've even used this recipe as a fantastic starting point for meal prep. By prepping the chicken and storing it separately from the pesto and toppings, we create delicious and healthy lunches for the week! It reheats beautifully, whether you choose to microwave it or pop it back in the oven to melt the cheese again.
Beyond the practical, this recipe feels luxurious. The combination of grilled chicken, fragrant pesto, sweet tomatoes, and melty mozzarella is simply divine. It tastes like something you'd order at a fancy restaurant, but it's so easy to make at home. It's the kind of meal that makes weeknights feel special, elevating even a simple dinner into something truly memorable. And honestly, as a working mom who always appreciates a little "me time," that feeling of accomplishment in creating such a sophisticated and tasty dish is almost as rewarding as the food itself.
I often serve this with a simple side of pasta (like the lemon parsley pasta I mentioned), roasted vegetables, or a fresh salad. The possibilities are endless. The beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability; it's a blank canvas where you can let your culinary creativity shine. So, ditch the takeout menus and give this Grilled Pesto Chicken a try. You won't be disappointed!
