Baked chicken breast, accompanied by intense pesto rosso, sweet dried tomatoes, aromatic basil, and delicate mozzarella—sounds tempting, doesn't it? I assure you, it tastes and looks even better! This pesto chicken recipe is incredibly easy to whip up. It requires only 5 ingredients and takes no more than 15 minutes to prepare. This dish is perfect for both quick, everyday dinners and special occasions.
What is pesto rosso?
Pesto rosso, often called red pesto, is a variant of the traditional Italian sauce. While most of us typically envision pesto as a green, basil-based sauce, pesto rosso brings an entirely different, yet equally enchanting flavour to the table. Its key ingredients include dried tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, nuts (usually pine), and either parmesan or pecorino cheese.
Originating from Italy, just like the classic basil pesto, pesto rosso garnered popularity not only throughout its home country but also abroad. It really captures the classic flavours and traditions of the Mediterranean.
Will the chicken breast turn out dry if baked in the oven?
No worries—if you handle the chicken breast properly, it’ll stay juicy even after baking. The key is to keep an eye on the time. I recommend taking the meat out of the oven after 20 minutes, then cutting it at the thickest point to check if it's done. If it's not fully cooked, give it a few more minutes in the oven. Additionally, the sun-dried tomatoes with olive oil and pesto help keep it juicy and prevent the chicken from drying out.
So, if you’re in the mood for something a bit more special than your regular chicken breast, give this recipe a try. You'll see that keeping things simple doesn’t mean sacrificing good flavour. Pair the pesto chicken with baked potatoes or whatever side you like.
If this chicken dish hit the spot, you might want to try something else. We've got a bunch of other chicken breast recipes that are easy to pull off. No fuss, just straightforward, tasty meals that'll make your dinner a standout.
- Chicken in mustard sauce | Oven baked
- Chicken pot pie with thyme biscuits
- Spring rolls with chicken and vegetables
Red pesto chicken | Only 5-ingredients
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breast
- 2-3 tbsp pesto rosso
- ½ cup of sun-dried tomatoes (in olive oil)
- 1 mozzarella ball
- fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- Drain the mozzarella cheese from its brine and grate it using a coarse grater, set aside.
- Remove any excess olive oil from the dried tomatoes, cut them into strips, set aside.
- Cut the chicken breast crosswise to create indentations (not all the way through), then place it in an ovenproof dish. Fill the resulting pockets with the dried tomatoes and basil leaves. Then, spread pesto rosso over the chicken breasts, ensuring the meat is thoroughly covered with the sauce.
- Place the prepared chicken in the oven. After 15 minutes, remove it from the oven and sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese on top. Continue to bake for an additional 7-10 minutes or until the meat is completely cooked through. It’s wise to check the chicken breast shortly before the end of the baking time to ensure the meat does not dry out.
- Serve the pesto chicken with baked potatoes or another favourite side. Enjoy your meal!
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