| |

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.

Grilled lemon pesto chicken on a white plate with a grilled chicken breast topped with basil pesto, melted parmesan cheese and a lemon wedge

Why You’ll Love The Recipe

  1.  High-Protein – This recipe is packed with lean protein
  2. Quick & Easy – The prep doesn’t come much easier than this grilled lemon pesto chicken!
  3. Kid Friendly – You can leave some ingredients off for your kids preference if they desire

Nutrients in Grilled Lemon Pesto Chicken

  1. Vitamin B6 – Did you know chicken is a great source of vitamin B6 which helps with metabolism and nerve function?
  2. Vitamin C – you’ll get a little vitamin C from the lemon juice to help fight off infections and improve your skin elasticity.
  3. 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
2 large raw chicken breasts, basil pesto in a jar, one lemon, a wedge of parmesan cheese, a small glass bowl of 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.

Grilled Lemon Pesto Chicken

This Grilled Chicken Lemon Pesto is a high-protein, flavor-packed dish that’s perfect for summer! Juicy grilled chicken is smothered in zesty lemon and pesto, topped with melted parmesan for a fresh, satisfying meal that comes together in minutes.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy prep, healthy dinner, healthy family dinner, high protein recipes
Servings: 4
Calories: 332kcal

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

Serving: 1g | Calories: 332kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 21g | Sodium: 622mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 205mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

7 Comments

5 from 7 votes

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating