Creamy pesto chicken with roasted tomatoes
By Emma Lewis
Cooking time
Prep: 15 mins Cook: 25 minsSkill level
EasyServings
Serves 4A fast and filling, all-in-one chicken dish
Nutrition and extra info
Nutrition per serving
- kcalories
- 545
- protein
- 40g
- carbs
- 22g
- fat
- 33g
- saturates
- 10g
- fibre
- 1g
- sugar
- 3g
- salt
- 0.82g
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tbsp Homemade pesto (see recipe below)
- 85g mascarpone
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 100g breadcrumbs, preferably from day-old bread
- 175g baby tomatoes, on the vine
- handful pine nuts
- handful basil leaves
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Method
- Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Use a small sharp knife to make a slit along the side of each chicken breast to form a pocket. Mix together the pesto and mascarpone, then carefully spoon a quarter of the mixture into each chicken breast and smooth over the opening to seal.
- Brush a little oil, about 1 tsp, all over each chicken breast and season well. Tip the breadcrumbs onto a large plate and season. Place each breast on the plate and press all over with the breadcrumbs. Place in a lightly oiled shallow baking dish along with the tomatoes (kept together on the vine in a couple of bunches). Drizzle over the remaining oil.
- Cook in the oven for 20-25 mins until the chicken starts to turn golden and is cooked through. Scatter over the pine nuts and cook for 2 mins more. Sprinkle with basil leaves and serve with new potatoes or crusty bread.
Recipe from Good Food magazine, May 2009
Comments, questions and tips
Comments
Did this dish for 20 people using chicken fillets. Marinated the chicken fillets first in garlic oil black pepper and lime juice. Drained all this and grilled for about 2 minutes on each side . Poured over the bought pesto and marcapone topped with oiled gluten free breadcrumbs and heated and toasted. Delicious! Part roasted tomatoes first then added when cooking.
I stumbled upon this because I had chicken breast and mascarpone I needed to use up.
I had some red pesto open in the fridge so used that instead of making my own. I halved the recipe as only for two. However, I would do all of the sauce recipe next time and maybe put the extra in a ramekin in the roasting tin to bubble away and use to pour over veg.
I also wouldn't roast the toms for quite as long next time.
I would cook this for friends, I thought it was delicious. Think I will serve with roast potatoes, green beans and carrots.
