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+ servings
Grilled pesto chicken on a white plate with tomatoes and avocado
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5 from 6 votes

Simple Basil Pesto Grilled Chicken Breasts

Grilled basil pesto chicken breasts are great for batch cooking and having them on hand for the busy week ahead. They can be paired with avocado and cherry tomatoes for a complete meal, or prepared and used in sandwiches, wraps, salads, and pasta dishes throughout the week. Once cooked, this perfectly cooked chicken can also be cooled and frozen.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: Anytime
Keyword: basil pesto chicken, grilled pesto chicken
Servings: 4 serves
Calories: 429kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup fresh basil
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • ½ cup walnuts
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • juice of one lemon
  • 4 boneless chicken breasts cut into halves lengthways
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes
  • 2 large avocado

Instructions

  • Prepare the pesto by blending the fresh basil, garlic cloves, olive oil, walnuts,, salt, and lemon juice in a food processor until smooth. You may need to stop halfway through and use a spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl before continuing.
  • Add the halved chicken breasts and the pesto to a large glass dish with a lid or a Ziploc bag, and mix to combine. Allow it to marinade for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
  • Cook the pesto chicken fillets on an oiled and preheated indoor grill pan or skillet until they are nicely golden on both sides and cooked through. This will take about 5-6 minutes on each side depending on the thickness of your fillets (the chicken is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 160F or 70C).
  • Remove the cooked chicken from the pan, and tent with aluminum foil or parchment paper for about 10 minutes, before slicing and serving.
  • Serve warm with some avocado and cherry tomatoes on the side.

Notes

This grilled pesto chicken is excellent for making some wraps as a take-away lunch.
Grilled chicken is best when fresh, as it’s very juicy. You can also enjoy it the day after by making some wraps or a salad, it will be tender and tasty.
Storing
Store cooled chicken breasts in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 429kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 81mg | Potassium: 505mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 778IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 2mg