Easy Grilled Pesto Chicken Recipes

GRILLED PESTO-MARINATED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix together pesto, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, pepper, and salt in a 1-gallon resealable freezer bag. Add chicken, coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator 8 hours to overnight.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Remove chicken from the marinade and shake off excess. Discard the remaining marinade.
• Cook chicken on the preheated grill over indirect heat until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 6 to 8 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH AVOCADO PESTO

Steps:

• Prepare an outdoor grill or a grill pan for medium heat.
• Whisk together 1 tablespoon of the oil and the lemon zest in a large bowl. Add the chicken to the oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Divide the chicken and thread onto metal or bamboo skewers.
• Toast the pine nuts in a small skillet over medium heat, tossing frequently, until light golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool.
• Combine the pine nuts, basil, parsley, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper in a food processor. Process to make a coarse paste. Add the avocado, lemon juice and remaining 3 tablespoons oil and process until mostly smooth.
• Grill the chicken, turning often, until just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Serve the chicken dolloped with the pesto and any extra pesto on the side.

EASY GRILLED PESTO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to 425 degrees. Brush the basil pesto evenly on each chicken breast. Be sure to put pesto on both sides of chicken.
• Reduce heat to medium, about 350 degrees, and place chicken on the grill. Cook about 5-6 minutes per side. Internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees.
• Let chicken rest about 5 minutes to let the juices settle. Slice and serve
• Preheat the oven to 375° degrees. Coat a medium-sized casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
• Brush the basil pesto evenly on each chicken breast. Be sure to put pesto on both sides of the chicken.
• Place chicken into the prepared casserole dish.
• Place in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken will be 165° when chicken is cooked through.
• Serve chicken with your favorite sides, enjoy.

3-INGREDIENT PESTO-GRILLED CHICKEN WITH PEACHES

Steps:

• Whisk 1 1/2 cups pesto, 1/2 cup oil, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Add chicken to bowl and slide your hand between skin and meat to loosen skin. Rub half of pesto mixture under skin, then half over outside. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat or heat a grill pan or cast-iron skillet over medium-high; oil grate or pan. Season chicken with remaining 3/4 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Grill chicken, skin side down, covered, until golden brown and lightly charred, 7-9 minutes. Turn and grill until cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165°F, 5-7 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate.
• Brush peach halves with oil. Reduce heat to medium and grill peaches, cut side down, until warmed through, 2-3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk remaining 1/4 cup pesto and 2 Tbsp. oil in a small bowl. Arrange chicken and peaches on a platter and drizzle pesto sauce over. Serve remaining sauce alongside.

PESTO-PARMESAN CRUSTED GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat gas or charcoal grill. In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook garlic in oil about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Add bread crumbs. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until toasted. Remove crumb mixture to small bowl. Stir pesto and Parmesan cheese into bowl with crumbs.
• Loosen skin on chicken to form a pocket, without detaching skin completely. Fill each pocket with pesto mixture. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Place chicken on grill, skin side down, over medium-low heat. Cover grill; cook 10 minutes, moving occasionally as needed to avoid burning the skin. Turn chicken; spoon any remaining pesto over chicken. Cook 10 to 15 minutes longer or until juice of chicken is clear when thickest part is cut to bone (170°F).

GARLIC-GRILLED CHICKEN WITH PESTO ZUCCHINI RIBBONS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the first five ingredients. Add chicken; turn to coat. Let stand 15 minutes., Meanwhile, for noodles, trim ends of zucchini. Using a cheese slicer or vegetable peeler, cut zucchini lengthwise into long thin slices. Cut zucchini on all sides, as if peeling a carrot, until the seeds become visible. Discard seeded portion or save for another use., Grill chicken, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat 4-5 minutes on each side or until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 165°. Remove from grill; keep warm., In a large nonstick skillet, heat tomatoes and olive oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic, salt, pepper flakes and pepper; cook and stir 30 seconds. Add zucchini; cook and stir 2-3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove from heat. Stir in pesto., Cut chicken into slices. Serve with zucchini noodles. Top with mozzarella.

GRILLED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH EASY PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium heat.
• Blend all ingredients except chicken in blender until smooth. Reserve 1/2 cup pesto sauce.
• Grill chicken 3 min. on each side. Brush with half the remaining pesto sauce; grill 3 to 4 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF), turning and brushing occasionally with remaining sauce.
• Serve chicken with reserved pesto sauce.

EASY PESTO CHICKEN SKILLET

Steps:

• Season chicken with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook and stir for about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer chicken to a bowl and keep warm.
• Pour chicken broth into the skillet and add gemelli. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 8 minutes. Add broccoli and cook, stirring occasionally, until completely cooked, about 5 more minutes.
• Add tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in Parmesan cheese, whipping cream, and pesto until combined. Return chicken to the skillet and cook until heated through, about 3 minutes.