Chicken Pesto Rice Bowl (Printable)

Tender basil pesto chicken served over warm rice with fresh tomatoes and pine nuts. Easy, comforting, and ready in 35 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Pesto

05 - 1/2 cup basil pesto, store-bought or homemade
06 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, optional

→ Rice

07 - 2 cups cooked white or brown rice, warm

→ Toppings

08 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
09 - 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted, optional
10 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - Season the chicken pieces evenly with salt and black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sauté for 6 to 8 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
03 - Reduce heat to low, add basil pesto, and stir to coat the chicken evenly. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until heated through.
04 - Divide warm rice among four serving bowls.
05 - Top each bowl with pesto chicken, diced tomatoes, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and pine nuts if desired.
06 - Garnish each bowl with fresh basil leaves and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in one skillet, which means less cleanup and more time to actually enjoy your meal.
  • The pesto does all the heavy lifting for flavor, so even on tired nights you get something that tastes like you put in real effort.
  • It works just as well with whatever vegetables or grains you have sitting around, making it endlessly adaptable.
02 -
  • Do not add the pesto over high heat or it will turn bitter and lose its bright color, always drop the temperature first.
  • Warm rice is key because cold rice will cool down your chicken too fast and the whole bowl feels disconnected instead of cozy.
03 -
  • Toast your pine nuts in a dry skillet for two minutes until golden, it makes them taste ten times better and fills your kitchen with the most wonderful nutty smell.
  • If your pesto feels too thick, loosen it with a tablespoon of pasta water or chicken broth before tossing it with the chicken.
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