Description
A delicious and easy Pesto Chicken Bake featuring tender chicken cutlets topped with fragrant pesto, fresh tomato slices, and melted mozzarella cheese, baked to perfection for a flavorful and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken and Pesto Mixture
- 2 pounds chicken breast cut into 4 cutlets
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 4 tablespoons pesto
Toppings
- 2 large tomatoes, sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400ºF (204ºC) to ensure it’s hot enough for baking the chicken evenly.
- Prepare the Chicken: Arrange the chicken breast cutlets in a single, even layer inside a baking dish. Season the chicken lightly with salt.
- Add Garlic and Pesto: Spread 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic evenly over each chicken cutlet. Then spoon 1 tablespoon of pesto over each cutlet, spreading it out evenly for maximum flavor.
- Top with Tomatoes and Cheese: Place 2-3 slices of tomato on top of each chicken cutlet, then sprinkle 1/4 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the tomatoes on each cutlet.
- Bake the Chicken: Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake for 22-25 minutes. The chicken is done when its internal temperature reaches 165ºF (74ºC) and the juices run clear.
- Rest Before Serving: Cover the baking dish and let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute and ensure a juicy result before serving.
Notes
- A typical chicken breast is roughly 16 ounces, which is quite large. To maintain proper serving sizes and cooking times, butterfly-cut your chicken breasts in half or buy pre-portioned cutlets.
- Look for a 2-pound package containing 2 large chicken breasts to create 4 cutlets for this recipe.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken cutlet with toppings
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
