Best Arugula Pesto Chicken Recipes

ARUGULA PESTO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Pulse arugula, basil, pine nuts, garlic and 1 teaspoon salt in a food processor until chopped. While processing, gradually add 1/4 cup oil in a steady stream until mixture is smooth. Using a shredder or spiralizer, shred zucchini lengthwise into long strands., In a large skillet, heat remaining oil over medium heat. Add zucchini strands and chicken. Cook and stir until zucchini is crisp-tender, about 4 minutes., Remove from heat. Add tomatoes, pesto, pepper and remaining salt; toss to coat. If desired, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve using a slotted spoon.,

CHICKEN WITH ARUGULA PESTO

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs; about 3 minutes before the pasta is done, add the green beans. Drain the pasta and beans and rinse under cold water. Toss with half of the cheese, 1 tablespoon olive oil, the lemon zest and salt.
• Preheat the broiler. Puree the arugula, parsley, nuts, lemon juice, 3 tablespoons water, the remaining cheese and 1 tablespoon olive oil, and salt to taste in a food processor. Transfer to a bowl.
• Place the chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound to about 1/2 inch thick. Transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet and season with salt. Rub all over with 1/4 cup of the arugula pesto and broil, turning once, until cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
• Arrange the tomatoes cut-side up on another baking sheet and broil 2 minutes. Spread each with some pesto and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs. Broil until golden, 1 more minute. Serve the chicken, tomatoes and pasta salad with the remaining pesto.

POACHED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH ARUGULA PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Make arugula pesto sauce:
• In a food processor pulse together all sauce ingredients except oil and water until arugula is chopped fine. With motor running add oil in a stream, blending mixture until smooth. Sauce may be made up to this point 1 week ahead and chilled, its surface covered with plastic wrap. Bring sauce to room temperature to continue. Stir in 1/4 cup hot water plus additional for thinner consistency if desired.
• In a 6-quart saucepan bring broth and water to a boil. Add chicken and simmer, covered, 9 minutes. Remove pan from heat and let chicken stand in cooking liquid, covered, until cooked through, about 20 minutes. Chicken may be poached 1 day ahead, cooled completely, uncovered, in cooking liquid, and chilled, covered. Bring chicken to room temperature to continue. Drain chicken and slice 1/4 inch thick. Serve chicken with sauce.

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH ARUGULA PESTO

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan to high.
• Toast the nuts lightly in small skillet over low heat, then add them to a food processor.
• Add the arugula, basil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt and pepper, to taste, and pulse to combine.
• With the processor on, stream in the extra-virgin olive oil to form thick pesto.
• Lightly pound out the chicken, then rub all sides with the pesto. Spray the grill pan with cooking spray or rub with a little oil and grill the chicken 2 to 4 minutes on each side.
• Cook's Note: Serve sliced on top of Caesar Spaghetti or, pile it onto ciabatta bread with sliced tomatoes and mozzarella for an outta-sight sammy.

ARUGULA PISTACHIO PESTO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Rinse the chicken under cold water and pat dry. Slip your fingers under the breast skin and gently create a pocket the length of both breasts. Season the inside of the cavity with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Add the arugula and 5 cloves of the garlic to a food processor fitted a blade. Pulse 3 to 4 times, then add 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, squeeze in the juice of 1/2 lemon and pulse 3 to 4 more times. Add the cheese and pistachios, and with the processor running, drizzle in the olive oil. Scrape down sides and pulse a few more times. Adjust seasoning, if necessary.
• Gently work half of the pesto under the breast skin. Reserve the other half of the pesto. Put the other lemon half into the cavity along with the remaining 2 peeled garlic cloves. Rub the chicken all over with 1 tablespoon of the butter. Season the outside of the chicken with the remaining salt and pepper. Tuck the wing tips under the bird, and truss the chicken. Put the chicken, on its side, into a roasting pan and put in hot oven. Roast at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes, rotate chicken onto other side, and roast for 15 minutes more. Carefully turn chicken onto its back (breast side up), reduce heat to 350 degrees F and roast for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, begin basting it with the pan juices. Repeat until chicken is done and an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F.
• Remove the roasting pan from the oven, put the chicken on a carving board and tent it with foil. Remove the fat on the top of the pan juices. Put the roasting pan over a burner on medium heat and add 1/3 cup of the reserved pesto. Stir and incorporate it into the pan juices along with any bits that might be on the bottom of the pan. Whisk the cornstarch and the half-and-half in a small bowl and slowly add it to the pan. Stir continually until the mixture starts to thicken. Adjust seasonings, if necessary, and pour it into a serving bowl.
• Carve the chicken, arrange it on a serving platter and serve with the sauce.

PESTO CHICKEN AND ARUGULA PANINI

Steps:

• Preheat panini press or stovetop griddle pan.
• Slice buns in half. Pick out some of the bread from the top and bottom halves to create a slight depression.
• Brush outsides of buns lightly with oil.
• Spread cut sides of buns with pesto.
• Top one side of each bun with chicken, cheese and arugula. Close buns.
• Place on panini press or griddle. Cover with grill top or grill press.
• Grill 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden and cheese starts to melt.

PESTO CHICKEN WITH ARUGULA SALAD

Steps:

• Cut breast into 2 pieces, butterfly, and pound breasts until 1/4 inch thick. Salt and pepper both sides and pour balsamic vinegar on one side
• Heat 2 T Olive oil in pan on medium heat. When heated, add chicken breast pieces to pan, balsamic side down.
• Pour 1/2 to whole bag of Arugula into a bowl. Squeeze juice from one lemon on salad, and sprinkle olive oil onto arugula. Toss and add salt and pepper to taste
• Flip chicken and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Remove from pan, add butter and melt. Add flour and cook roux.
• Add 2-3 T of chicken broth and pesto to roux and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add 1 T of milk or cream to sauce.
• Plate chicken, pour 1/2 of sauce on chicken and top with 1/2 of Arugula.

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH ARUGULA PESTO

Steps:

• In the blending cup of an immersion blender, combine the arugula, garlic, pine nuts, cheese, lemon juice, the 3/4 tsp. salt and 3/4 tsp. pepper and blend until coarsely chopped, about 30 seconds. While blending, slowly stream in the 3/4 cup olive oil and blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Set the pesto aside. Preheat one side of an electric indoor grill to 375ºF and the other side to 400ºF. Using your fingertips, loosen the skin on each chicken breast to create a small pocket. Spoon 2 tsp. pesto into each pocket, then gently spread out the pesto with your fingertips. Grill the chicken, skin side down, over 400ºF heat for 6 minutes. Rotate the chicken 180 degrees and grill until the skin is golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes more. Turn the chicken over and grill, rotating as needed to ensure even browning, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a breast registers 160ºF, 12 to 14 minutes more. Meanwhile, in a bowl, stir together the potatoes, the 3 Tbs. olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill the potatoes, cut side down, over 375ºF heat for 9 to 15 minutes, rotating them every 4 minutes. Serve the chicken with the potatoes and pass the remaining pesto alongside. Serves 4.