Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Pesto, Mozzarella and Tomatoes – With video! You won’t believe how easy this beautiful dish is to make!
Have you ever taken a bite of something that is soooo good, and somebody tries to talk to you and you are so deep into that bite, that you can’t talk? You just give them a crazy lady stare and keep chewing and smiling, chewing and smiling….
This Chicken is chock full of Mozzarella, Pesto and Tomatoes; You could call it Caprese Chicken, even! And not only is it a flavor bomb, it is super easy to make and all in one pan!
This dish is perfect in it’s imperfections! All that gooey cheese and dripping pesto. But yet, it’s not so bad on the fat-o-meter. Just 2 tablespoons of pesto, a few slices of fresh tomato and a quarter cup of mozz!
To start, slice your chicken horizontally, but not all the way through. So it opens like a book. A really tasty book :). Check out the video for a great tutorial!
Spread on the pesto. Add sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and a sprinkle of spinach if you like.
Now just fold it over and secure with a couple toothpicks. It’s sloppy and perfect!
Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and give it a quick sear in an oven proof skillet. Cast Iron was made for this dish, but any oven proof skillet will work. You could also move it from the skillet to a baking sheet to finish off in the oven.
If I were a chicken, this is how I’d like to be remembered….
A few tips on making Stuffed Chicken Breasts:
- I used store bought Pesto. Love Costco brand.
- Sear on both sides and finish baking in the oven in the same skillet or move to a foil covered baking sheet.
- Serve with an easy pesto/yogurt dipping sauce if desired.
- You can see all my One Pan Dinners here!
More Stuffed Chicken Recipes
- Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken
- Fajita Stuffed Chicken
- Chicken Rollatini Stuffed with Spinach and Ricotta
- Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Ricotta, Spinach and Sun Dried Tomatoes
Another great and easy chicken dinner! Greek Sheet Pan Dinner.
And one more! Tex Mex Chicken Skillet! This 30 minute meal incredibly easy with tons of that Tex Mex flavor we all love!
To the wonderfulness of chicken breasts!
Clink!
Kathi
What do you think about this recipe? Have questions? Comment below! Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, and connect with us on Instagram and tag your @Laughingspatula recipes with #laughingspatula, while you’re at it…We love to see your pics!
Pesto Tomato and Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 8 tablespoons pesto
- 8 slices tomato
- 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh spinach
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper
Pesto Yogurt Dipping Sauce
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons pesto
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Cut chicken breasts horizontally but do not cut all the way through. Open up. (see photo above)
- Spread entire opens surface of chicken with 2 tablespoons pesto.
- Add 2 sliced tomatoes to half of the chicken.
- Top with 1/4 cup of grated mozzarella and a few spinach leaves.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle on a bit of olive oil.
- Heat oven proof skillet over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- When olive oil is sizzling, carefully add chicken.
- Sear on each side for 2-3 minutes using tongs to turn.
- Finish baking in oven for about 8 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 165 degrees.
- For a dipping sauce: Combine yogurt and pesto and serve over the chicken or on the side.
Notes
- I used store bought Pesto. Love Costco brand.
- Sear on both sides and finish baking in the oven in the same skillet or move to a foil covered baking sheet.
- Serve with an easy pesto/yogurt dipping sauce if desired.
Nutrition
My family loved it!!! I’m still a beginner to cooking and some days my family’s taste buds suffer because of it. But last night was a major success! I can’t wait to try more of your recipes!!
Dear Allison, Marry me! LOL! You made my day…thank you so much for taking the time to write such a nice note! Please let me know what else you try and if it worked for you or if a recipe needs help. I’m open to it all!
I was a little intimidated, I do cook, just not crazy about it. The prep wasn’t bad, I actually felt like a gourmet chef. Lol
So much so that I looked up a recipe for pesto! I made it without pine nuts or cheese….it was excellent!
My family loved it. I will definitely make this again & again❤️
Thank you Gilda! I try to create recipes that are easy and full of flavor, so these kind of notes are so great to get! For a gal not crazy about cooking, you sure rocked it…made your own pesto? You go!
Are they 585 calories a piece?
Hi Landry – yup. It’s the pesto. A really calorie dense condiment :). But my husband I share one. One whole one is huge once it’s stuffed!
Hi Kathi! I prepared this chicken meal just the other day and my children loved it! We got each shares and labeled them “don’t touch!”
It sure was SUPER delicious!!! Cheers!
Thank you Rach! I am so glad your kiddos like Pesto…evolved palates lol! Thanks for taking the time to send such a nice note!
Wow!!! I made this tonight and it was fabulous! The whole family couldn’t get enough. The chicken was perfectly moist. I did tie my stuffed chicken with kitchen twine to hold my over stuffed breasts…Worked perfectly. Will be making this regularly.
Thanks for taking the time to send such a nice note Brandi! I’m so glad you and your family loved them!
This recipe is a winner! I made it tonight for dinner and my husband said “Now that was some kind of a good meal!” The chicken was so so juicy, and I happened to have everything on hand. I made homemade baked mac and cheese and steamed broccoli to go with it and it was gone fast. Even the kids enjoyed it. Thank you Kathi for a fabulous recipe!
Oh my gosh Rachel…make my day! High praise from a great cook! xoxoxo!
first time I had stumbled upon your website by pure accident…im amazed by your recipe blog. well done. Sandy h. SOUTH AFRICA
I love this simple flavorful recipe.
Yum…this recipe is going on my weekly menu. I have made stuffed chicken but never have added pesto. What a fabulous idea to add such great flavor. Yum.
What a nice note Ali – Thanks!
This is my kind of dinner! I make my own pesto and freeze it in ice cubes so it’s ready anytime… I have some just waiting for a meal like this!
I used to do that all the time…need to start doing that again…great idea!
Love this kind of dish, easy to make and just so good. It’s the kind of thing that’s perfect when you’re resisting the temptation of a takeaway and then you feel so good because you resisted and still got to eat something that was sooo tasty!
Just when you think that chicken is getting a little boring…I find myself drooling at your latest rendition! OMG, this looks amazing and so easy! Can’t wait to try it. Pinned!