Grilled Lemon Pesto Chicken
This Grilled Chicken Lemon Pesto is a high-protein, flavor-packed dish that’s perfect for summer! No joke, it’s going to be my new easy dinner, go-to all summer long! Juicy grilled chicken is smothered in zesty lemon pesto and topped with melted parmesan for a fresh, satisfying meal that comes together in minutes.
Why You’ll Love The Recipe
- High-Protein – This recipe is packed with lean protein
- Quick & Easy – The prep doesn’t come much easier than this grilled lemon pesto chicken!
- Kid Friendly – You can leave some ingredients off for your kids preference if they desire
Nutrients in Grilled Lemon Pesto Chicken
- Vitamin B6 – Did you know chicken is a great source of vitamin B6 which helps with metabolism and nerve function?
- Vitamin C – you’ll get a little vitamin C from the lemon juice to help fight off infections and improve your skin elasticity.
- Monounsaturated fatty acids – you’ll find these heart healthy fats in the olive oil and pesto.
The Ingredients:
- Chicken Breasts – I prefer boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
- Pesto – You can make your own or for an easier route, try the Classico basil pesto
- Lemon – Use a fresh lemon for best flavor
- Parmesan – Adding fresh shredded parmesan will taste best in this recipe, but you can use bagged, shredded parmesan if you prefer.
- Olive Oil
Recipe Tips & Variations
➡️ Quicker Prep – You can grill your chicken ahead of time and add toppings when ready to save time. You may miss out on the marinade flavor, but it will still taste great!
➡️ Make It Kid Friendly – If you’ve got picky eaters, let them add their own toppings. Sometimes our kids will skip the pesto and just top with cheese.
What To Serve With Grilled Lemon Pesto Chicken
- We love this recipe with air fried vegetables like green beans or broccoli.
- Add a whole wheat dinner roll or pasta for additional carbohydrates.
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Grilled Lemon Pesto Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 Thin boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 4 tbsp Fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 cup Basil pesto
- 1/2 cup Freshly grated parmesan
Instructions
- In a large ziplock back, add the lemon juice and olive oil then add the 4 thin chicken breasts and mix well to marinate. (You can let this sit in the refrigerator to deepen the flavor if you’d prefer!)
- Next spray a large skillet or grill pan with cooking spray or olive oil and put over medium high heat. Add the chicken breasts.
- Grill for about 6-7 minutes on each side for a total of about 12-14 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
- medium and cover with lid until cheese melts.
- Next, spread 2 Tbsp of basil pesto on each chicken followed by 2 Tbsp shredded parmesan to each chicken breast. Lower temperature to low-medium and cover with lid until cheese melts.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Nutrition
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Pesto is my jam, highly rec!