Pesto Roast Chicken Recipes

ITALIAN PESTO ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cut off the top of the head of garlic to expose the cloves, trimming about 1/4 inch off of the top of each clove. You may need to trim individual cloves along the sides of the head. Brush the cut cloves with a small amount of olive oil and nestle the head into a piece of aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cloves begin to soften, about 20 minutes. Remove garlic from the oven and let cool slightly. Leave oven on. Press on the bottom of each clove to push softened cloves out of their peels and into a small bowl.
• Process basil in the bowl of a food processor until minced. Add roasted garlic and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese; pulse a couple of times to mix together. Pour olive oil in slowly, with the processor running, until pesto is smooth and has achieved your desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
• Slide your fingers under the skin of the chicken to loosen it. Rub pesto generously underneath the skin and inside the cavity of the chicken. Place chicken on a rack inside a baking pan.
• Place chicken in the oven and cook for 30 to 40 minutes. Increase heat to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) and cook until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, 10 to 15 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.

PESTO ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Pre Heat oven to moderate. Loosen skin on chicken breast by sliding your fingers between the skin and the flesh. Rub about 11/2 tablespoons of Pesto under the skin over the breast.
• Rub the remaining 11/2 tablespoons of pesto over the outside of chicken, breast, legs and wings.
• Place halved onions in a roasting pan drizzle about 1 tablespoon of olive oil over and place chicken on top.
• Roast, uncovered in moderate oven for 30 Minutes.
• Add garlic and zucchini to roasting pan, drizzle with a little extra oil and return to the oven for about 1 hour or until chicken is coked through.
• If using cherry tomatoes add to roasting pan about 20 min's before the end of cooking time.
• Serve with fresh corn on the cob and roasted potatoes.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH PESTO AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Stir pesto and garlic in medium bowl to blend. Transfer 1 tablespoon pesto mixture to small bowl and reserve for sauce.
• Spread 1/4 cup pesto mixture over outside and 1 tablespoon inside main cavity of chicken. Place potatoes in large roasting pan and toss with remaining pesto mixture. Push potatoes to sides of pan; place chicken in center. Sprinkle chicken and potatoes with salt and pepper. Roast until thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken thigh registers 180°F and potatoes are brown and tender, about 1 hour 20 minutes.
• Transfer chicken and potatoes to platter. Add broth and reserved 1 tablespoon pesto to roasting pan. Place pan over heat; bring broth to boil, scraping up browned bits. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Serve chicken and potatoes with sauce.

CREAMY PESTO CHICKEN WITH ROASTED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Use a small sharp knife to make a slit along the side of each chicken breast to form a pocket. Mix together the pesto and mascarpone, then carefully spoon a quarter of the mixture into each chicken breast and smooth over the opening to seal.
• Brush a little oil, about 1 tsp, all over each chicken breast and season well. Tip the breadcrumbs onto a large plate and season. Place each breast on the plate and press all over with the breadcrumbs. Place in a lightly oiled shallow baking dish along with the tomatoes (kept together on the vine in a couple of bunches). Drizzle over the remaining oil.
• Cook in the oven for 20-25 mins until the chicken starts to turn golden and is cooked through. Scatter over the pine nuts and cook for 2 mins more. Sprinkle with basil leaves and serve with new potatoes or crusty bread.

PESTO YOGURT ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. On a cutting board, sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt over garlic and roughly chop. Using a flat side of the knife blade, crush mixture into a paste. Transfer garlic paste to a large glass bowl and whisk in 1 tablespoon oil, pesto-yogurt sauce, and ground pepper. Add chicken pieces and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or up to overnight.
• Arrange chicken, skin side up, on a foil and parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake until skin is crisp, and chicken is cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes.