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A creamy, herb-filled baked chicken dish featuring chicken breasts topped with a mixture of pesto, cream cheese, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese, delivering 49 grams of protein per serving. Easy to prepare and perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 small to medium sized chicken breasts (approximately 2.5 lbs total)
  • Olive oil spray
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • ½ cup jarred pesto
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil spray.
  2. If chicken breasts are thick, gently pound or slice them horizontally to an even thickness.
  3. Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer in the prepared dish and season evenly with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  4. Let cream cheese sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes to soften.
  5. In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese and pesto until smooth and creamy.
  6. Spread the cream cheese–pesto mixture evenly over the chicken breasts to coat.
  7. Sprinkle grated Parmesan over the topping, then sprinkle shredded mozzarella on top.
  8. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  9. Remove the foil and bake an additional 15 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reads 165°F and the cheese is golden and bubbling.
  10. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Nutrition info is based on one chicken breast plus one-sixth of the total pesto and cheese topping., Allow leftovers to cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days., Reheat leftovers gently in the oven at 350°F or microwave until warm., To make ahead, assemble and cover the dish, then refrigerate until ready to bake.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://theproteincook.com/pesto-chicken-bake-easy-cheesy-high-protein-dinner/