This Pesto Chicken Parmesan is full of flavor and cheesy goodness and is going to become your next go to weeknight meal. Pair this juicy chicken breast recipe with a simple salad or pasta and you have yourself a gourmet 30 minute dinner.
This chicken breast recipe is tasty a variation on Chicken Parmesan. There are a lot of the same components-- chicken cutlets, marinara sauce, and mozzarella, but with the added flavor from basil pesto.
Pesto is a powerhouse ingredient, we love it in recipes such as Sausage and Mushroom Pasta and Pesto Orzo Salad.
I’m always looking for new recipes to use pesto. I don’t know about you but I often buy a jar for one recipe and then I don’t always use the whole thing! So I’m left with an open container and I don’t want that goodness to go to waste. Pesto is good on so many things. It can be used for something as simple as a sandwich spread or as a dip for crusty bread. Toss it with hot pasta and you’ve got yourself an easy lunch. You can make homemade lemon pesto, as well.
In this recipe, it compliments the mozzarella and rich marinara sauce perfectly, elevating a classic italian dish to be even more special.
Ingredients
- Thin cut boneless skinless chicken breasts. Using thin cut chicken breasts is the way to go when making chicken parmesan. You want to make sure the middle is cooked through, without overcooking the outside and drying out the chicken. Buying the chicken preheat saves you time by skipping the step of pounding the chicken thin.
- Pesto. Feel free to make homemade pesto or use store bought.
- Marinara sauce. I love having jars of marinara on hand for nights when you need a quick meal. We can lots of quarts over the summer from our kitchen garden and that’s what I used in this recipe. For a store bought sauce, my favorite is Rao's.
- Mozzarella cheese. The cheese on top adds a little pizzazz to this low fat, low carb dish. If I am really feeling fancy, I will use fresh mozzarella slices!
- Breadcrumbs: You can use panko breadcrumbs, plain breadcrumbs, or italian breadcrumbs in this recipe.
- Parmesan cheese: I suggest freshly grated for best taste.
How to Make Chicken Pesto Parmesan
Step 1. Begin by preparing your three step dredging station.
In a shallow bowl, combine flour, salt, and pepper.
Step 2. In a second bowl, combine water and one egg and whisk together.
Step 3. In a third bowl combine breadcrumbs and freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Step 4. Pat chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and then place in flour mixture, coating thoroughly and shaking off the excess.
Step 5. Move to the next bowl with the egg wash, and coat the chicken breast with that mixture.
Step 6. Finally place in the bowl of parmesan breadcrumbs and ensure that the chicken breast is evenly coated.
Step 7. Repeat these three steps for remaining chicken cutlets.
Step 8. In a large deep skillet, heat oil over medium high heat.
Add chicken cutlets and brown, cooking about five minutes per side until cooked through.
Remove to a plate to the side and turn off heat.
Step 9. To the same skillet, add marinara sauce.
Step 10. Place chicken cutlets back into the skillet and nestle into the sauce. Top each chicken piece with a spoonful of pesto.
Step 11. Add a portion of mozzarella cheese to each one. Before placing into the oven with the broiler on high.
Step 12. Cook for approximately two minutes or until the cheese melts and begins to bubble. Watch carefully so that it does not burn.
Remove from the oven and enjoy.
Variations
- Mix up the veggies: This would be perfect with zucchini, asparagus, green beans, or broccoli
- Turn it into stuffed chicken parmesan. Butterfly chicken breasts and turn this dish into a stuffed chicken parm.
- Omit the cheese: Make this dish dairy free by omitting the cheese or using your favorite cheese substitute.
What to serve Pesto Chicken Parmesan with?
I love serving this with pasta and some extra marinara sauce. It would be equally delicious with mashed potatoes, on its own, or with a side salad.
Looking for more chicken breast recipes?
- This Houlihan's Stuffed Jalapeno Popper Chicken Breast recipe is a reader favorite!
- Looking for another cheesy chicken recipe? Try this Parmesan Crusted Chicken Romano.
- Pizza Baked Chicken is low carb and family friendly. Plus, it's easily customizable to everybody's preferences!
- Wanting a cheesy chicken breast recipe all in one cast iron skillet and with loads of caramelized onions? Try this French Onion Soup Chicken.
Did you enjoy this Pesto Chicken Parmesan? I would love for you to let me know by leaving a comment and star rating. I can't wait to hear from you!
Pesto Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
- 4 thin cut chicken breasts
- ½ cup flour
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp. water
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- ½ cup pesto
- 24 oz. jar marinara sauce
- 4 oz. mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Begin by preparing your three step dredging station.
- In a shallow bowl, combine flour, salt, and pepper.
- In a second bowl, combine water and one egg and whisk together.
- In a third bowl combine breadcrumbs and freshly grated parmesan cheese.
- Pat chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and then place in flour mixture, coating thoroughly and shaking off the excess.
- Move to the next bowl with the egg wash, and coat the chicken breast with that mixture.
- Finally place in the bowl of parmesan breadcrumbs and ensure that the chicken breast is evenly coated.
- Repeat these three steps for remaining chicken cutlets.
- In a large deep skillet, heat oil over medium high heat.
- Add chicken cutlets and brown, cooking about five minutes per side until cooked through.
- Remove to a plate to the side and turn off heat.
- To the same skillet, add marinara sauce.
- Place chicken cutlets back into the skillet and nestle into the sauce. Top each chicken piece with a spoonful of pesto.
- Add a portion of mozzarella cheese to each one. Before placing into the oven with the broiler on high.
- Cook for approximately two minutes or until the cheese melts and begins to bubble. Watch carefully so that it does not burn.
- Remove from the oven and enjoy.
Anjali
I couldn't believe how simple this recipe was! Just 5 ingredients and we had a delicious and healthy dinner ready in no time at all! Will definitely be making this again soon!
Helen
This is exactly the sort of dish my family would love! So simple, but delicious and packed with nutrients.
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
These stuffed chicken breasts sound absolutely amazing - so fulfilling and delicious!
Mahy
Chicken and pesto - does it get any better? The flavor combo to fight for!
Claire
Sounds amazing! Haven't tried this before and I would love to give this a try! Thank you for this.