Cheesy Pesto Baked Chicken Recipe

Ben Carraoli

Cheesy Pesto Baked Chicken Recipe

I just made this cheesy pesto baked chicken last night, and I can’t stop thinking about how creamy and flavorful it turned out. I set out to create something that felt both comforting and a little fancy—without too much fuss.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Servings: 4

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

3 –4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs) – choose pieces of relatively even thickness for uniform cooking.
8 oz cream cheese softened – bringing it to room temperature helps it mix smoothly.
⅓ cup basil pesto store-bought or homemade – choose a high quality pesto with fresh basil and good olive oil.
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese – freshly shredded melts better than pre-shredded.
½ cup cherry tomatoes halved – for freshness and color
4 –6 fresh basil leaves chopped – adds aromatic brightness

Method

I set my oven to 375 °F (190–200 °C) so it’s ready when I’m done mixing. Meanwhile, I lightly grease the baking dish so nothing sticks.
Next, I stir the softened cream cheese and the basil pesto in a bowl until smooth and well blended. I taste and adjust — maybe a pinch of salt or extra pesto if I want more herb flavor.
I lay the chicken breasts flat in the greased baking dish, then spread the pesto mixture evenly over each piece. After that, I sprinkle the shredded mozzarella on top. Into the oven it goes, uncovered, until the internal temperature reaches about 165 °F (74 °C), which usually takes between 30 and 45 minutes.
Once baked, I garnish with halved cherry tomatoes and chopped basil before serving.

Notes

Let the cream cheese soften fully — I sometimes microwave it in 5-second bursts so it blends without lumps.
Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness so they cook uniformly.
After baking, broil for 1–2 minutes if you want a golden, bubbly cheese top (watch carefully!).
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing so juices redistribute.
Use high-quality pesto (often found in the refrigerated section) — the flavor makes a difference.