Pesto Chicken Pilaf Recipes

PESTO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a baking dish.
• Spread about 2 tablespoons of pesto per chicken breast over the top of each breast, and wrap each breast in prosciutto slices to cover the entire breast. Place the wrapped chicken breasts into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the chicken is no longer pink, the juices run clear, and the prosciutto is lightly crisped, about 25 minutes.

ONE-POT CHICKEN PILAF

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a frying pan, then fry the onion for 5-6 mins until softened. Add the chicken pieces, fry for a further couple of mins just to colour the outside, then stir in curry paste and rice. Cook for another min.
• Pour in the chicken stock and throw in any larger bits of frozen veg. Bring to the boil, lower the heat, then cover the pan with a lid. Cook for 10 mins, then stir in the remaining veg. Scatter over the spinach, cover, then cook for 10 mins more until all the stock is absorbed and the rice is tender. Give everything a good stir, season to taste, then tuck in.

BAKED PESTO CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Whisk pesto and mayonnaise together in a bowl. Dredge both sides of each chicken tender in the pesto mixture and coat with bread crumbs. Arrange tenders on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Turn chicken pieces and continue baking until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 15 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the centers should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

PESTO CHICKEN AND RICE BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray an 8-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Mix 1 1/2 cups water together with rice, seasoning packets, and 2 tablespoons pesto. Pour mixture into the casserole dish.
• Toss chicken tenders with remaining pesto in a shallow dish. Place chicken on top of the rice.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
• Mix remaining water with Alfredo sauce. Remove dish from the oven and pour Alfredo sauce over the chicken, stirring to combine. Top with Parmesan cheese and bake until cheese melts, about 15 minutes more. Serve immediately.

OVEN-BAKED CHICKEN PILAF

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200/180/Gas 6.
• Toast the pine nuts in an ovenproof and flameproof casserole dish, then remove and set aside.
• Heat the oil in the ovenproof casserole dish and soften the onion with the turmeric for about 3 minutes. Add the chicken thighs, then cook for 3-4 minutes until browned all over.
• Tip in the rice, sultanas and 700ml of the stock, then bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and bake in the oven for 20 minutes, checking halfway and adding more stock if it looks a little dry.
• Cook until the chicken is done and the rice tender. Season to taste, then stir in the toasted pine nuts and serve sprinkled with coriander leaves.

PESTO CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fennel and cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to become translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Add the shallots and continue to cook until the chicken is browned on all sides, about 3 minutes.
• Add the rice and cook, stirring, until it is toasted, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat so the broth simmers; cover the skillet and simmer until the rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a roaring boil.
• Meanwhile, fill a small bowl with ice water. Set aside.
• Cook the pine nuts in a medium skillet over medium heat, shaking frequently, until lightly toasted, 3 to 5 minutes. Keep an eye on them, as they can burn quickly.
• When the water is boiling, add a handful of salt (you want the water as salty as the ocean), then add the basil leaves. Use a slotted spoon, small strainer or spider to press down the leaves, making sure they're fully submerged in the water. Count to five, remove the leaves with the slotted spoon and immediately plunge them into the ice water for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove the basil from the ice water and squeeze out excess water.
• Put the toasted pine nuts in a food processor. (If you don't have a food processor, a blender is fine.) Pulse to chop the nuts. Add the garlic and basil and pulse. Once a creamy, green paste forms, with the motor running, slowly pour in the remaining 1/2 cup of olive oil, processing until the oil is fully incorporated. Transfer the paste to a medium bowl and fold in 1 cup of the Parmesan with a rubber spatula. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the pesto and butter, if using. Serve the chicken and rice topped with fresh basil and the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan.

PESTO PASTA WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic until tender, then stir in chicken. Season with red pepper flakes. Cook until chicken is golden, and cooked through.
• In a large bowl, combine pasta, chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and pesto. Toss to coat evenly.