Whole30 Pesto Chicken Melt
Elevate your weeknight dinner with the Whole30 Pesto Chicken Melt—a wholesome, flavor-packed dish that's both satisfying and compliant with your Whole30 goals! This recipe combines tender, oven-baked chicken breasts with a vibrant homemade pesto made from fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, lemon juice, and nutritional yeast, offering a dairy-free yet creamy twist. Rich in protein and bursting with bold flavors, each chicken breast is crowned with the fragrant pesto and paired with juicy cherry tomatoes and crisp spinach for a refreshing, nutrient-dense meal. Ready in under an hour, this simple yet elegant dish is perfect for meal prep or a quick dinner that doesn’t compromise taste or health. Try this guilt-free recipe for a wholesome spin on a classic favorite!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 4 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 0.25 cups raw pine nuts
- 2 pieces garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 0.25 cups nutritional yeast
- 0.5 cups olive oil (for pesto)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup spinach leaves
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels.
On a baking sheet, drizzle olive oil over the chicken breasts and season both sides with salt and pepper.
Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
While the chicken is baking, prepare the pesto: In a food processor, combine fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic cloves, lemon juice, and nutritional yeast.
Pulse a few times to combine, then slowly drizzle in the olive oil while the processor is running until a thick pesto forms. Set aside.
In the last 5 minutes of baking the chicken, remove the baking sheet, and spread about 2 tablespoons of pesto on top of each chicken breast.
Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the pesto is heated through.
Meanwhile, slice cherry tomatoes in half and rinse the spinach leaves.
Once the chicken is done, remove from the oven and let it rest for a couple of minutes.
Serve the chicken melts with a side of cherry tomatoes and fresh spinach leaves for a complete meal.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2772 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 196.5 g | 252% | |
| Saturated Fat | 29.8 g | 149% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 592 mg | 197% | |
| Sodium | 2918 mg | 127% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 19.2 g | 7% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 6.4 g | 23% | |
| Total Sugars | 6.0 g | ||
| Protein | 227.1 g | 454% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 196 mg | 15% | |
| Iron | 11.8 mg | 66% | |
| Potassium | 2792 mg | 59% | |
*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.
