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Delicious Cheesy Pesto Baked Chicken

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A quick and easy cheesy pesto baked chicken recipe perfect for family dinners, featuring tender chicken breasts topped with creamy pesto and melty cheese baked to golden perfection.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 ounces or 170 grams each)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1 cup (4 ounces or 115 grams) shredded or sliced fresh mozzarella cheese
  • ¼ cup (25 grams) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup (120 grams) small-curd cottage cheese (optional but recommended)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Lemon zest from half a lemon (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Rinse and pat dry the chicken breasts. Pound them to an even thickness of about ¾ inch (2 cm) if uneven. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine pesto, cottage cheese, minced garlic, and lemon zest if using. Stir until smooth.
  4. Lightly brush a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil. Place chicken breasts in a single layer.
  5. Spread a generous spoonful of the pesto mixture evenly over each chicken breast.
  6. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the top, then dust with grated Parmesan cheese.
  7. Bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the cheese is bubbling and golden. Tent with foil if cheese browns too quickly.
  8. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute and cheese to set.

Notes

Pound chicken breasts to even thickness for uniform cooking. Use fresh pesto if possible for best flavor. Tent with foil if cheese browns too fast. Rest chicken before serving for juiciness. Pre-mixing pesto and cottage cheese the night before enhances flavor. Use a meat thermometer to avoid dry chicken.

Nutrition

Keywords: cheesy pesto baked chicken, easy family dinner, baked chicken recipe, pesto chicken, mozzarella chicken, quick dinner, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://bouncybowl.com/delicious-cheesy-pesto-baked-chicken-recipe-easy-family-dinner-idea/