Introducing a new delectable dish: Creamy Pesto Boneless Chicken Thighs! This recipe combines tender boneless chicken thighs with a luscious creamy pesto sauce, resulting in a flavorful and satisfying meal that will leave your taste buds craving more.
Calling all pesto lovers! Are you tired of the same old pasta dishes and looking for a new way to indulge in your favorite savory sauce? Look no further than creamy pesto boneless chicken thighs. This easy-to-follow recipe combines the richness of cream with the bold flavors of pesto for a mouthwatering meal sure to satisfy.
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the ingredients needed, the steps to prepare the chicken thighs and creamy pesto sauce, and offer some serving suggestions to make your meal complete. So, let’s get cooking and add some excitement to your dinner routine with this delicious dish.
The Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need a few key ingredients to make creamy pesto boneless chicken thighs.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs – about six or seven for this recipe
- Heavy cream
- Minced garlic
- Baby Spinach
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Jar of pesto
Don’t forget to have some olive oil on hand for cooking the chicken. You’ll be on your way to a delicious and satisfying meal with these simple ingredients.
Preparing the Chicken Thighs
Before making the creamy pesto sauce, preparing the chicken thighs properly is important. Start by preheating your skillet or pan over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of olive oil.
Next, season both sides of the chicken thighs with salt and pepper, distributing the seasoning evenly. Once your skillet is hot, add the chicken thighs to the pan, smooth side down. Allow the chicken to cook for about 5-6 minutes until the underside is golden brown and releases easily from the pan.
Flip the chicken over and cook for 4-5 minutes until the other side is golden brown and the chicken is cooked through. You can check if the chicken is fully cooked by cutting it into the thickest part and ensuring there’s no pink inside or until an internal temperature of 165 F is reached.
Once the chicken thighs are fully cooked, remove them from the pan and place them on a plate to rest for a few minutes. This will allow the juices to redistribute and keep the meat tender and juicy.
With the chicken thighs prepared and resting, it’s time to move on to making the creamy pesto sauce to complete this delicious meal.
Making the Creamy Pesto Sauce
To make this dish a knockout, you’ll need to whip up a batch of creamy pesto sauce. Trust me. It’s worth the extra effort.
Start by adding a cup of heavy cream to the same pan you used for the chicken, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom to infuse the sauce with even more flavor. Once the cream is heated through, add in a generous dollop of your favorite store-bought pesto and whisk until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes until it thickens slightly, then add in a handful of baby spinach. Keep whisking until the spinach has wilted and combined with the sauce. You can also add a generous sprinkle of Parmesan Cheese.
Now it’s time to bring it all together. Spoon the creamy pesto sauce over the chicken thighs and garnish with fresh chopped basil or extra Parmesan cheese. Serve with a side salad or some crusty bread to soak up any extra sauce. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you.
If you want to make the meal even more memorable, keep reading for some serving suggestions that will elevate your dining experience.
Serving Suggestions
To take the creamy pesto boneless chicken thighs to the next level, here are some serving suggestions that will help elevate your dining experience.
- Pair the dish with roasted vegetables, such as asparagus, zucchini, or bell peppers, for a pop of color and added nutrition. If you prefer a heartier side, mashed potatoes or a warm quinoa salad would complement the chicken well.
- For an Italian-inspired meal, serve the chicken with a side of pasta drizzled with extra pesto sauce. This will give you the ultimate pesto experience, leaving you wanting more.
- To make the meal more festive, pair it with a glass of your favorite red wine, and enjoy a cozy evening with your loved ones.
These serving suggestions will help you create a delicious and impressive meal that will make you proud of your culinary skills. So gather your favorite people around the table and indulge in the creamy pesto boneless chicken thighs – a perfect meal for pesto lovers. It makes great leftovers too!
Creamy pesto chicken thighs are an easy and delicious way to satisfy your pesto cravings. With just a handful of ingredients and a few simple steps, you can have a crowd-pleasing dish on your table in no time. Whether you serve it over pasta, rice, or on its own, this recipe will surely become a household favorite. This easy dinner recipe is also a great option for those on a low-carb or keto diet. Just serve with a heaping side of veggies or cauliflower rice.
Commonly Asked Questions
Traditional basil pesto is the classic choice, but you can experiment with different variations such as sun-dried tomato pesto or spinach and walnut pesto to add unique flavors to the creamy sauce.
Yes, you can make the creamy pesto boneless chicken thighs ahead of time and refrigerate them for a day or two. If you’d like to freeze them, it’s best to freeze the chicken thighs and sauce separately. Thaw and reheat them thoroughly before serving.
Absolutely! While the recipe calls for boneless chicken thighs, you can substitute them with boneless chicken breasts. Remember that chicken breasts tend to be leaner and can cook faster, so adjusting the cooking time accordingly is essential to prevent them from drying out. Additionally, you may want to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness to ensure even cooking. The creamy pesto sauce will still pair wonderfully with the chicken breasts, resulting in a flavorful and satisfying dish.
Similar Recipes
If you like easy dinner recipes like this, you will enjoy the ones below:
- Spinach Pesto with Chicken and Linguine
- One-Pot Sundried Tomato Chicken with Pasta
- 30-Minutes Stuffed Pepper Pasta
- Bruschetta Pasta with Shrimp
Creamy Pesto Boneless Chicken Thighs
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
Discover a delightful twist on chicken thighs with this mouthwatering Creamy Pesto Chicken Thighs recipe. Savory, juicy, and packed with flavor. Try it tonight!
Ingredients
- 6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- 2 tbsp. Olive oil
- 1 tbsp. Garlic paste or minced garlic cloves
- 2 1/2 heaping tbsp. Pesto
- 3 1/2 c. heavy cream
- 1 12 tbsp. Lemon juice
- 3 oz. cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 handfuls fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 tsp. Onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. Garlic powder
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
- Serve with cooked pasta or rice
Instructions
- Season the chicken thighs on both sides with salt and pepper.
- In a large shallow pan on medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Place the chicken thighs in the pan and cook on both sides for 5 minutes. The chicken should be crusty and golden brown on both sides.
- Remove the chicken from the pan leaving the oil and chicken bits. Reduce to medium heat. Add the garlic paste and stir for 5 minutes. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook for another 5 minutes, until the tomatoes have softened. Finally, add the pesto and stir.
- Pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine with the veggies. Allow to simmer for 5-7 minutes. The cream will thicken. Next, add the spinach and stir until the spinach wilts and combines with the sauce. Season the sauce with the onion powder, garlic powder, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the chicken back to the sauce, simmer for 10 minutes, and serve as desired.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cook
- Cuisine: American
Being dairy intolerant I substituted vegan sour cream and chicken broth for the cream. I think I would use I bit less garlic next, but overall it was delicious. Served it with riced cauliflower.
Awesome substitutions!