Chicken with Arugula Pesto
Juicy chicken breast paired with a refreshing arugula pesto brings a delightful twist to weeknight dinners, making it a feast for the eyes and taste buds.
Ingredients
For the Pesto
- 3 cups baby arugula Fresh arugula for the pesto
- ½ cup fresh parsley Firmly packed
- 2 tablespoons almonds or hazelnuts Toasted
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Adds acidity
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest Enhances flavor
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese Used in the pesto and for garnishing
For the Chicken and Pasta
- 4 small skinless, boneless chicken breasts About 1¼ pounds
- 6 ounces orecchiette pasta About 1½ cups
- ½ pound green beans Trimmed and cut into pieces
- 2 medium tomatoes Halved
- 2 teaspoons whole-wheat breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil To toss with pasta
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt Used for seasoning
Instructions
Preparation
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the orecchiette as directed on the package.
- About 3 minutes before the pasta is done, add the green beans and cook until crisp-tender.
- Drain the pasta and beans, rinse under cold water, then toss with half the Parmesan cheese, 1 tbsp olive oil, lemon zest, and salt.
- In a food processor, puree arugula, parsley, nuts, lemon juice, remaining Parmesan cheese, 3 tbsp water, and 1 tbsp olive oil. Transfer the pesto to a bowl.
- Place the chicken breasts between plastic wrap and pound to about ½-inch thick. Season with salt and rub with ¼ cup of the arugula pesto.
Cooking
- Preheat the broiler. Broil the chicken until cooked through, 4–5 minutes per side.
- On a separate baking sheet, broil the tomatoes cut-side up for 2 minutes. Spread with pesto, sprinkle with breadcrumbs, then broil for 1 more minute until golden.
Serving
- Serve the chicken, broiled tomatoes, and pasta salad with the remaining pesto on top.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Keep the pesto separate from the pasta and chicken for best flavor preservation. Consider freezing components separately for longer storage.