Nut-Free Chicken Pesto
Elevate your weeknight dinners with this vibrant and allergy-friendly Nut-Free Chicken Pesto recipe! This dish swaps traditional pine nuts for protein-packed pumpkin seeds, creating a creamy and flavorful pesto that complements tender, golden-brown chicken breasts. Fresh basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and a splash of zesty lemon juice come together in perfect harmony, while extra-virgin olive oil ensures a luxuriously smooth texture. Ready in just 40 minutes, this nut-free twist on a classic is perfect for those with dietary restrictions or anyone seeking a fresh take on pesto. Serve it hot with roasted vegetables or a crisp green salad for a wholesome, crowd-pleasing meal that’s sure to impress! Keywords: nut-free pesto, chicken pesto recipe, basil pesto without nuts, quick dinner ideas, allergy-friendly recipes.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 4 pieces Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups Fresh basil leaves
- 0.25 cup Pumpkin seeds
- 0.5 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 large Garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
- 0.5 cup Extra-virgin olive oil
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil for cooking
Instructions
Begin by prepping the chicken breasts. Pat them dry with paper towels and season both sides with a little salt and pepper.
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Once the oil is shimmering, add the chicken breasts. Cook for about 6-7 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked and golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pan and let it rest on a plate.
While the chicken is cooking, make the pesto. In a food processor, combine the basil leaves, pumpkin seeds, Parmesan cheese, garlic cloves, lemon juice, 0.5 teaspoon of salt, and 0.25 teaspoon of black pepper.
Pulse the ingredients in the processor a few times until they are finely chopped.
With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the 0.5 cup of extra-virgin olive oil, and continue blending until the pesto is smooth and well combined.
Taste the pesto and adjust seasoning if necessary, adding more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to your liking.
Slice the cooked chicken breasts and transfer them onto a serving plate.
Generously spoon the nut-free pesto over the chicken.
Serve the nut-free chicken pesto hot, with your choice of sides such as roasted vegetables or a crisp green salad.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2841 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 201.1 g | 258% | |
| Saturated Fat | 38.3 g | 191% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 7.2 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 632 mg | 211% | |
| Sodium | 2387 mg | 104% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 13.0 g | 5% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 4.3 g | 15% | |
| Total Sugars | 1.2 g | ||
| Protein | 244.7 g | 489% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 611 mg | 47% | |
| Iron | 10.8 mg | 60% | |
| Potassium | 2280 mg | 49% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
