If you’re on the lookout for a healthy, delicious, and bright weeknight dinner recipe, look no further than this Trader Joes pesto chicken recipe! The combination of simple, fresh ingredients will be sure to impress your family or guests with minimal ingredients.
Why You’ll love this recipe:
- Bursting with Flavor: The combination of chicken pesto, fresh baby tomatoes, and sundried tomatoes creates a delicious medley of vibrant, savory, and slightly sweet flavors.
- Easy Dinner Idea: This recipe is quick and simple, making it perfect for busy weeknights or impressing guests without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Healthy and Nutritious: Packed with protein, healthy fats, and fresh ingredients, this dish is as nutritious as it is tasty.
- Meal Prep Friendly: This dish can easily be pre-portioned in a glass air tight container and served with roasted potatoes for a healthy and balanced meal prep friendly lunch or dinner.
If you love this 5 ingredient weeknight meal, you will love my blackened chicken with mango salsa and my chicken meatloaf recipe with oatmeal.
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Ingredients
- Trader Joe’s Pesto (Genovese) Chicken Breast Package: Pre-marinated chicken breasts infused with the vibrant flavors of Genovese basil pesto, providing a quick and flavorful base for the dish. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby, feel free marinate your chicken breasts or chicken thighs with either a homemade fresh pesto or store bought pesto of choice. Trader Joe’s sells a vegan pesto that’s absolutely delightful.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Sweet and juicy, these fresh baby tomatoes add a burst of freshness and color to the recipe.
- Trader Joe’s Julienne Sliced Sun Dried Tomatoes: Intensely flavored and slightly chewy, these sun-dried tomatoes bring a concentrated, tangy sweetness to the dish.
- Balsamic Glaze: A rich and syrupy reduction of balsamic vinegar that adds a touch of sweetness and acidity, enhancing the overall flavor profile.
- Trader Joes Burrata: A luscious, creamy cheese that melts beautifully over the warm chicken, adding richness and indulgence.
- Salt: Enhances the natural flavors of the ingredients and ensures a well-seasoned dish.
- Black Pepper: Adds a mild heat and subtle earthiness, complementing the other flavors.
Optional to Garnish:
- Fresh Basil, Shredded: Adds a fragrant, herbal aroma and a vibrant green color, enhancing the dish with a burst of fresh, peppery flavor.
- Pine Nuts, Toasted: Provide a delightful crunch and a nutty depth, adding texture and complexity to the dish.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to 400 F and set your rack to the middle position.
- Add your pre-marinated pesto chicken breast to a ceramic baking dish. Spread the chicken out so that it’s in an even, single layer. Then add in your washed cherry tomatoes on top in an even layer,
followed by your sun-dried tomatoes. Add a pinch of salt and pepper, to taste.
- Bake your chicken for 22-26 minutes or until your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 F. I highly recommend using a meat thermometer for this.
- Once your chicken is cooked through, grab your container of burrata cheese and pinch off pieces of burrata, placing them on top of the chicken breasts in an even layer throughout the dish.
5. Drizzle with some balsamic glaze in an even layer, top with shredded basil and toasted pine nuts. Serve with white rice, brown rice, or roasted potatoes for a more filling and satisfying meal. Feel free to also pair with a side salad for some additional fiber.
Hint: If you can’t find toasted pine nuts at the store, you can toast your own. Add about ¼ cup of pine nuts to a small pan on medium-low heat. Add a spray of avocado oil and toast the pine nuts until fragrant and golden brown, stirring constantly especially as they begin to brown. When they’re golden brown, transfer them to a plate in an even layer to stop the cooking process and prevent burning.
Substitutions
- Trader Joe’s Julienne Sliced Sun Dried Tomatoes – If you don’t have or can’t find the sun dried tomatoes, you can substitute for Trader Joe’s Fire Roasted Red Peppers.
- Gluten-Free: Always make sure to read the ingredient labels on individual items to confirm if they are gluten-free or not. Based on my research, the sun-dried tomatoes are processed in a facility with wheat, so although they are gluten-free in nature, they do contain exposure. Depending on your reason for being gluten-free, this dish may be fine or may not.
- Dairy-Free: Skip the burrata and use a dairy-free pesto with chicken breast instead of the pre-marinated Trader Joe’s pesto chicken to make this dish dairy-free. Similar to my statement above, I recommend reading ingredient labels on individual items to confirm if they are dairy-free or not. Based on my research, the sun-dried tomatoes are processed in a facility with milk, so although they are dairy-free in nature, they do contain exposure. Depending on your reason for being dairy-free, this dish may be fine or may not.
Variations
- Spicy – add chili pepper flakes while cooking to imbue heat into the dish.
This dish is toddler and kid-friendly as is. I adjust portions and slice the chicken into bite size appropriate pieces when serving my toddler!
Equipment
All you need to make this Trader Joe’s chicken pesto recipe is a 9 x 13 ceramic baking dish. If you’re in the market for one, this is my favorite ceramic baking dish. You can also grab some for pretty cheap at Marshall’s or Home Goods.
To make sure your recipe comes out perfect and reaches the correct internal temperature, I would recommend using a digital meat thermometer.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you choose to purchase through qualifying links.
STORAGE
Leftover pesto chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For optimal freshness, consume the chicken within 3-4 days. If you want to keep it for a longer period, you can freeze the leftovers.
Top tip
If you’d like, Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the cooked pesto chicken just before serving to add a burst of fresh flavor.
FAQ
Absolutely, you can substitute burrata with fresh mozzarella or ricotta for a similar creamy texture.
While fresh baby tomatoes are recommended for their texture and flavor, you can use canned tomatoes if necessary, though the dish may be slightly different in consistency.
Yes, you can prepare the ingredients in advance and assemble the dish just before serving to keep everything fresh and flavorful.
You can add more vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, or spinach, either cooked or raw, to increase the nutritional content and add more flavors. You may also serve with a side salad or cooked green beans for some additional color and fiber as well.
Dinner
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Meal Prep
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Jump to: Recipe
Trader Joe’s Pesto Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- 1 9×13 Ceramic Dish
Ingredients
- 1.25-1.3 Pound Trader Joe's Pesto Genovese Chicken Breast Package
- 1 Cup Baby Tomatoes
- ¼ Cup Trader Joe’s Julienne Sliced Sun Dried Tomatoes
- Balsamic Glaze Drizzled
- 4-6 Oz Burrata
- Salt to taste
- Black Pepper to taste
Optional to Garnish:
- 3-4 Fresh Basil Leaves Shredded
- ¼ Cup Pine Nuts Toasted
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to 400 F and set your rack to the middle position.
- Add your pre-marinated pesto chicken breast to a ceramic baking dish. Spread the chicken out so that it's in an even, single layer. Then add in your washed baby tomatoes on top in an even layer, followed by your sun-dried tomatoes. Add a pinch of salt and pepper, to taste.
- Bake your chicken for 22-26 minutes or until your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 F. I highly recommend using a meat thermometer for this.
- Once your chicken is cooked through, grab your container of burrata cheese and pinch off pieces of burrata, placing them on top of the chicken breasts in an even layer throughout the dish.
- Drizzle with some balsamic glaze in an even layer, top with shredded basil and toasted pine nuts. Serve with white rice, brown rice, or roasted potatoes for a more filling and satisfying meal. Feel free to also pair with a side salad for some additional fiber.
Nutrition
Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Amanda says
Made this for the second time last time and it was just as good as the first. Easy and so tasty. Served it over cauliflower rice.
christina.klapper says
Awe yay!!! So glad you love it Amanda! Thank you so much for leaving a review! Sounds delicious with cauliflower rice!