Description
Chicken zucchini pesto skillet brings together juicy chicken and fresh zucchini in a quick one-pan meal that comes together in under 30 minutes. Tossing everything in basil pesto sauce keeps your dinner simple while delivering real flavor that satisfies.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
Vegetables:
- 2 medium zucchinis, sliced into half-moons
- 250 grams cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and fats:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 0.5 cup basil pesto
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cut 500 grams of chicken breast into bite-sized pieces, slice 2 medium zucchinis into half-moons, halve 250 grams of cherry tomatoes, and mince 3 cloves of garlic.
- Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a large skillet and heat it over medium heat for about 1 minute until it shimmers.
- Add your chicken pieces to the hot skillet, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, and cook for 5-7 minutes at medium heat until the pieces brown on the edges and cook through completely.
- Toss the 2 medium zucchini slices into your skillet with the chicken and let them cook for 4-5 minutes at medium heat so they become tender and develop light golden spots.
- Stir in your 3 cloves of minced garlic and the 250 grams of halved cherry tomatoes, then sauté everything together for 2-3 minutes at medium heat.
- Pour 1/2 cup of basil pesto over the entire contents of your skillet and stir everything thoroughly so the pesto coats the chicken and vegetables evenly.
- Taste your dish and decide if it needs additional salt and pepper to suit your preference.
- Transfer your finished skillet to serving plates while it’s still warm, and serve it as is or alongside crusty bread, rice, or pasta if you prefer.
Notes
- Cut your chicken into bite-sized pieces so they cook evenly and quickly in the skillet.
- Don’t skip browning the chicken first, as it creates a flavorful crust that makes the whole dish taste better.
- Add the pesto at the end rather than cooking it, since heat can dull the fresh basil flavor and turn it dark.
- If your zucchini releases too much water while cooking, drain some liquid from the skillet before adding the pesto so the dish doesn’t become watery.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-16 minutes
- Category: Sautéed Chicken
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg