Skip to content

Creamy Pesto Chicken

    Total Time: 45 minutes

    Published: February 2, 2025

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

    The BEST Creamy Pesto Baked Chicken! You won’t believe how easy it is to make this simple dinner of tender chicken breasts served in a creamy pesto sauce with blistered grape tomatoes. With just 8 easy ingredients it will become your new go-to dinner served alongside your favorite pasta.

    Looking for more weeknight chicken dishes? Try my Chicken Dumpling Soup, One Pan Spanish Chicken and Rice, Chicken Pad Thai, Easy Baked Lemon Chicken, and my super-flavorful Moroccan Chicken Tagine!

    Why This Recipe Works

    It’s quick and colorful: It may take 45 minutes to make, but most of that time is hands-off baking time allowing you to do other things. And because it has simple (but delicious!) flavors and bright colors it is guaranteed to be a hit, even with fussy eaters!

    It’s made up of grocery store staples: You don’t need to seek out anything different or fancy to make this creamy baked pesto chicken dish. Jarred pesto, grape tomatoes and garlic are the stars, and if your grocery store does not carry creme fraiche if can easily be substituted for mascarpone and a squeeze of fresh lemon or even heavy cream.

    Ingredients

    ingredients for chicken with pesto cream sauce
    • Chicken breasts: without the skin.
    • Garlic cloves: you’re slicing them so you’ll want to buy fresh!
    • Grape tomatoes: or another baby tomato variety.
    • Creme fraiche: if you can’t find it, sub in mascarpone lightened with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, or heavy cream.
    • Pesto – use any basil pesto here. My easy 5-minute pesto recipe is a personal favorite!

    Here’s How You Make It

    Step by Step Instructions

    steps 1-6 for creamy pesto chicken recipe
    1. Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375F. (not pictured)
    2. Brown the chicken: Season the chicken all over, and heat the oil in a skillet over a medium-high heat. Brown the chicken breasts, working in batches so you don’t crowd the pan, then set aside. (photos 1-3)
    3. Make the sauce: Add the sliced garlic to the pan and cook for a minute until just soft and aromatic. Stir in the tomatoes, followed by the pesto and the creme fraiche. Remove from the heat. (photos 4-10)
    4. Bake: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning the creamy pesto sauce over the top. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the chicken breasts have cooked through to an internal temperature of 165F. (photo 11)
    5. Serve: Season the sauce to taste with salt (how much you need will depend on which brand of pesto you’re using) before serving over cooked pasta. (photo 12)
    steps 7-12 for creamy pesto chicken recipe

    Expert Tips

    • Don’t skip browning the chicken. Not only does it add extra flavor to the chicken breasts, but it helps keep them nice and juicy inside when they finish cooking in the sauce.
    • Cooked chicken has an internal temperature of 165F. If you’re using particularly large chicken breasts and you’re worried they might not be cooked through, test them with a thermometer to be sure.
    chicken in tomato and cream sauce in skillet with wooden serving spoon

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What will work well on the side of this Pesto Chicken to add extra veggies?

    Alongside pasta to make the most of all that delicious sauce, either steamed or roasted greens like broccoli, or a simple green salad would be great! If you don’t want to make pasta, crusty bread, mashed potatoes or rice would also pair well.

    Can I make this recipe dairy free?

    Use dairy free creme fraiche, or another slightly thick dairy substitute that has a slightly tangy flavor and won’t split when the dish is baked. Also, make sure the pesto you’re using is dairy free as they often contain cheese.

    Is this pesto chicken recipe gluten free?

    If your pesto is gluten free, so is this recipe!

    sliced chicken breast in pesto and tomato cream sauce with bowtie pasta

    More Easy Dinner Ideas

    Did you make this recipe? FANTASTIC. Please rate the recipe below and be sure to tag me on social when you share a photo on social – I love seeing what you’re up to in the kitchen!

    pesto chicken with tomatoes and pasta on plate with fork and knife

    Creamy Pesto Chicken

    This easy recipe for Creamy Pesto Chicken with Grape Tomatoes only requires a handful of simple ingredients and is delicious served alongside cooked pasta and your choice of greens.