Description
Hearty noodle chicken pesto bowl brings Italian-inspired comfort to your dinner table. Creamy pesto sauce glazes tender chicken and perfectly cooked noodles, delivering a quick, satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- ½ pound (226 grams) boneless skinless chicken breasts
Vegetables:
- 2 medium zucchini (about 454 grams)
- 2 garlic cloves, sliced
- 1 handful cherry tomatoes, cut in half
Seasonings and Oils:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- Kosher salt
Sauce and Garnish:
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) prepared basil pesto
- Several fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced, for garnish
Instructions
- Season the chicken breast with a light dusting of salt and paprika, ensuring even coverage on both sides.
- Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over high temperature, creating a sizzling surface for perfect searing.
- Carefully place the chicken breast in the hot pan, allowing each side to develop a golden-brown crust for 1-2 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low, cover the pan, and continue cooking until the chicken is fully cooked through, approximately 2-5 minutes depending on thickness.
- Transfer the chicken to a resting surface, allowing juices to redistribute while preparing the remaining components.
- Transform zucchini into delicate spirals using a spiralizer, creating elegant, pasta-like strands.
- Return the pan to high heat, adding another drizzle of olive oil to create a fragrant cooking surface.
- Introduce zucchini noodles and thinly sliced garlic to the pan, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
- Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the zucchini noodles, gently wilting them while maintaining a crisp texture.
- If excess moisture appears, drain the zucchini noodles in a colander to prevent sogginess.
- Slice the rested chicken into bite-sized pieces, ensuring uniform and appealing presentation.
- Combine zucchini noodles with vibrant basil pesto, thoroughly coating each strand for maximum flavor.
- Arrange the pesto-dressed zucchini noodles in serving bowls, artfully topping with sliced chicken.
- Garnish with fresh cherry tomatoes and delicate basil leaves, creating a visually appealing and appetizing dish.
Notes
- Perfectly seasoned chicken breast ensures juicy, flavorful meat that elevates the entire dish.
- Spiralizing zucchini creates light, low-carb noodles that absorb the delicious pesto beautifully.
- Draining zucchini noodles prevents watery sauce, maintaining a fresh and crisp texture.
- High-heat sautéing develops rich caramelization on chicken and quick-cooks zucchini noodles.
- Fresh basil and tomatoes add bright, colorful finishing touches that enhance the pesto’s herbal notes.
- Quick one-pan cooking method minimizes cleanup and maximizes efficient meal preparation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg