Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Chicken

Need a new chicken recipe? If you love sun dried tomatoes and pesto, you'll love this stuffed chicken that's packed with flavor! Boneless skinless chicken breasts are very lean, so it’s easy to dry them out when cooking. Butterflying the chicken ensures even cooking.

Total cooking time will vary depending on the size / thickness of chicken breasts but here are some general guidelines for baking chicken breasts:

• 350 Degrees: 30-35 minutes

• 375 degrees: 25-30 minutes

• 400 degrees: 22-25 minutes

• 425 degrees: 18-22 minutes

• 450 degrees 15-18 minutes

Here are some options/tips:

Add a handful of spinach leaves along with the pesto before baking.

Sear stuffed chicken breasts first before baking and reduce baking baking time 3- 5 minutes. (secure with toothpicks if needed)

Add cut potatoes to bake along with the chicken. If the potatoes need to cook longer when the chicken is done, remove the cooked chicken and keep covered with foil while you finish baking the potatoes. Coat potatoes with the pesto oil left in the pan for a delicious flavor before serving.

For any leftover pesto, cook some pasta and toss with the pesto and some pasta water. This will make a great side or lunch the next day.

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Chicken

Pesto

• 1/2 cup basil leaves

• 2-4 Tablespoons sun dried tomatoes

• 2 garlic cloves

• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

• 2 Tablespoons of nuts (optional)

• 3-4 Tablespoons oil from sun dried tomatoes or olive oil

Chicken

• 2-4 Chicken Breasts (depending on size)

• salt and pepper

• Mozzarella, feta or any other cheese desired
  

Directions

Preheat oven to 400º F.

Pesto: Add all ingredients into a food processor and blend together, adding more oil as needed.

Butterfly the chicken breasts and season with salt and pepper. Spread some of the pesto on the inside and on top of the chicken breasts (you can also stuff some cheese with the pesto).

Bake for 20 minutes. Top with cheese and bake for 5 more minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and internal temperature reaches 165°F using a meat thermometer. (Total time will depend on size/thickness of chicken)