Keto Creamy Pesto Chicken (Printer-friendly)

Tender chicken in basil cream sauce with roasted tomatoes. Ready in 40 minutes.

# Required Ingredients:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1.5 pounds)
02 - 0.5 teaspoon sea salt
03 - 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Creamy Pesto Sauce

05 - 0.5 cup basil pesto
06 - 0.75 cup heavy cream
07 - 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Roasted Tomatoes

08 - 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved (approximately 10.5 ounces)
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
10 - 0.25 teaspoon sea salt
11 - 0.25 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

12 - Fresh basil leaves
13 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange halved cherry tomatoes on a baking sheet, drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, season with 0.25 teaspoon salt and 0.25 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 15 to 18 minutes until softened and lightly caramelized.
02 - While tomatoes roast, season chicken breasts evenly with 0.5 teaspoon salt and 0.5 teaspoon pepper on both sides.
03 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken breasts for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer to a plate.
04 - Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, add basil pesto and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer. Add Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and sauce reaches a creamy consistency.
05 - Return seared chicken to the skillet, coating thoroughly with sauce. Cover and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
06 - Top chicken with roasted tomatoes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and additional Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than ordering takeout, which means weeknight sanity is actually within reach.
  • The creamy pesto sauce is so rich and herbaceous it makes you forget you're eating keto at all.
  • Those roasted cherry tomatoes burst with sweetness and tang in a way that feels almost decadent.
02 -
  • Don't skip the searing step on the chicken—that golden crust adds flavor and texture that simmering alone simply cannot achieve.
  • If your sauce breaks or looks separated, add a splash of water and whisk it off the heat for a few moments to bring it back together.
03 -
  • Don't let the pesto sit in the pan before adding cream—pesto can bitter slightly if it gets too hot, so move quickly through that step.
  • If your store-bought pesto seems too concentrated or bitter, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice right before serving brightens everything up beautifully.
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