Best Pesto Chicken Vegetable Medley Packets Recipes

EASY PESTO CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Chop the bell pepper, yellow squash, and zucchini, and slice the red onion. I like to make different shapes for each vegetable, but aim to make the pieces all around the same size.
• Cube the chicken breasts into ½-inch pieces.
• Add the cooking oil to a large skillet and heat over medium-high. Once the skillet and oil are very hot, add the chicken and sauté until the chicken pieces are opaque (3-5 minutes - the chicken will continue to cook as you add vegetables).
• Add the green beans to the skillet and sauté for 1-2 minutes more, or just until thawed.
• Add the bell pepper and red onion to the skillet. Sauté for 1-2 minutes more. If water is beginning to pool in the skillet, turn the heat up slightly. It should be hot enough that the water released from the vegetables evaporates quickly.
• Add the yellow squash and zucchini to the skillet and continue to sauté 2-3 minutes more, or just until the squash softens slightly.
• Turn the heat off, add the pesto to the skillet, and stir until everything is coated. Give the vegetables a taste and add salt, pepper, or more pesto if desired. Top with a light sprinkle of Parmesan just before serving.

ONE PAN PESTO CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 425F.
• In a large bowl, combine the chicken, veggies, and pesto until the chicken and veggies are coated well with pesto.
• Transfer mixture to a large sheet pan and bake for 15-20 minutes. If desired drizzle with mozzarella cheese during the last 5 minutes of baking.

PESTO CHICKEN & VEGETABLE MEDLEY PACKETS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Mix cream cheese, pesto sauce and lemon zest until blended.
• Spoon 1/3 cup rice onto center of each of 4 large sheets heavy-duty foil sprayed with cooking spray. Turn up sides of foil; slowly pour 1/3 cup broth over rice on each foil sheet. Top evenly with vegetables, chicken, cream cheese mixture and Parmesan. Fold foil to make 4 packets.
• Place packets in single layer on baking sheet.
• Bake 25 to 28 min. or until chicken is done (165°F). Remove packets from oven; let stand 2 min. Cut slits in foil to release steam before carefully opening each packet. Sprinkle with basil.

PESTO CHICKEN RECIPE WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Pat chicken breast cutlets dry and season with salt and pepper on both sides. (Boneless skinless chicken breasts can be used, simply cut them in half horizontally so that you have thinner pieces. Watch the video to see how I do this).
• In large cast iron skillet, heat a little bit of extra virgin olive oil (about 2 tbsp) until shimmering but not smoking in a cast iron skillet. Add chicken to the heated skillet and cook over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, turning over once. Remove from the skillet and set aside for now.
• If needed, add a little bit more extra virgin olive oil to the skillet. Add zucchini, bell peppers, onion, and grape tomatoes. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes or so, tossing occasionally, until the veggies have softened.
• In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, mix together the basil pesto and cream.
• Add the chicken back to the skillet. Pour the pesto and cream mixture in. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for a minute or so.
• Remove the skillet from the heat, add lemon juice and lemon zest. Add pine nuts and fresh basil for garnish. Serve hot with your favorite grain or plain orzo pasta.

ONE-SKILLET CHICKEN THIGHS WITH PESTO AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Combine red onion, oil, soy sauce, basil, vinegar, garlic, and peppercorns for marinade in a zip-top bag and mix well. Add chicken and massage well. Let sit for 4 to 6 hours in the refrigerator, flipping once halfway through.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove chicken from the refrigerator and discard marinade.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, skin-side down, and sear until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. (This will melt out most of the fat underneath and will leave a nice crispy skin.) Flip chicken and cook for 1 minute more. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
• Drain the extra fat and oil from the skillet, then melt remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. When butter has melted, add red onion and garlic to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes. Mix in green beans, potatoes, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, salt, and pepper. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring throughout. Return chicken to the skillet.
• Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven, and bake for 15 minutes.
• Remove the skillet from the oven. Top chicken thighs with basil leaves, then halloumi cheese slices, making sure cheese does not touch the sides of the pan. Return to the oven and cook until chicken is no longer pink in the centers, 15 to 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Turn on the broiler and broil until the cheese is golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes more, checking frequently to prevent burning.
• Meanwhile, prepare pesto sauce: Combine olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and hot sauce in a blender and blitz for 30 seconds. Add basil and blitz until it's the consistency of pesto, about 30 seconds.
• Drizzle the pesto sauce primary onto the chicken, but also on the veggies.

PESTO CHICKEN AND POTATOES IN PARCHMENT PACKETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Slice potato very thinly, about 1/8-inch thick. Place slices in a bowl of water to prevent browning.
• Fold parchment paper in half to create two 15x12-inch rectangles. Drain potatoes and arrange 1/2 of the slices on the inside fold of the parchment paper in an overlapping semicircle. Season with salt and pepper. Top with 5 basil leaves and 1/2 of the onion slices. Repeat with the second piece of parchment paper.
• Place chicken legs over the onion slices, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and top with pesto. Carefully fold the parchment paper around the chicken, starting from one end, to create sealed packets. Transfer packets to a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until juices run clear, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Transfer packets to plates and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before opening and serving.