Best Pesto Rice Recipes

PESTO CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fennel and cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to become translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Add the shallots and continue to cook until the chicken is browned on all sides, about 3 minutes.
• Add the rice and cook, stirring, until it is toasted, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat so the broth simmers; cover the skillet and simmer until the rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a roaring boil.
• Meanwhile, fill a small bowl with ice water. Set aside.
• Cook the pine nuts in a medium skillet over medium heat, shaking frequently, until lightly toasted, 3 to 5 minutes. Keep an eye on them, as they can burn quickly.
• When the water is boiling, add a handful of salt (you want the water as salty as the ocean), then add the basil leaves. Use a slotted spoon, small strainer or spider to press down the leaves, making sure they're fully submerged in the water. Count to five, remove the leaves with the slotted spoon and immediately plunge them into the ice water for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove the basil from the ice water and squeeze out excess water.
• Put the toasted pine nuts in a food processor. (If you don't have a food processor, a blender is fine.) Pulse to chop the nuts. Add the garlic and basil and pulse. Once a creamy, green paste forms, with the motor running, slowly pour in the remaining 1/2 cup of olive oil, processing until the oil is fully incorporated. Transfer the paste to a medium bowl and fold in 1 cup of the Parmesan with a rubber spatula. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the pesto and butter, if using. Serve the chicken and rice topped with fresh basil and the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan.

PESTO CHICKEN AND RICE BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray an 8-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Mix 1 1/2 cups water together with rice, seasoning packets, and 2 tablespoons pesto. Pour mixture into the casserole dish.
• Toss chicken tenders with remaining pesto in a shallow dish. Place chicken on top of the rice.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
• Mix remaining water with Alfredo sauce. Remove dish from the oven and pour Alfredo sauce over the chicken, stirring to combine. Top with Parmesan cheese and bake until cheese melts, about 15 minutes more. Serve immediately.

PESTO RICE-STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Cook rice according to package directions., In a small bowl, combine tomato, pesto, salt and rice. Cut a pocket horizontally in the thickest part of each chicken breast. Fill each with 3 tablespoons rice mixture; secure with toothpicks., In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. In batches, brown chicken breasts on each side, adding additional oil as needed. Transfer to a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan., Bake 18-22 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Discard toothpicks before serving.

BLACK BEANS AND RICE WITH CILANTRO PESTO

Steps:

• Place soaked beans in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until cooked through, about 1 1/2 hours, adding more water if needed. Drain beans into a colander set over a bowl and reserve the cooking liquid from the beans.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan on the grates of the grill. Add the onions and cook until soft. Add the rice, toss to coat in the oil and onion mixture, and cook for 2 minutes. Add 3 3/4 cups of the bean cooking liquid (if there is not enough liquid, add some water to measure 3 3/4 cups). Season the rice with salt and pepper, stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, place cover on the pot, and cook until rice is just cooked through, about 14 to 16 minutes.
• While the rice is cooking, place cilantro, garlic and pine nuts in a food processor and process until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, add the oil and process until smooth. Add the cheese and process until incorporated. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Place rice and beans in a large bowl, fold in the cilantro pesto, and garnish with the additional chopped cilantro.

TEXAS STYLE PESTO WITH PORK TENDERLOIN AND SPANISH RICE

Steps:

• Prepare the pesto by combining all of the ingredients in a food processor and blending well. Set aside until ready to use.
• To prepare the Spanish rice, heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Saute the onions, bell peppers, and garlic, and cook for approximately 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and rice to the pot and stir gently. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a hot skillet, sear all of the pork tenderloins to seal in the juices and finish cooking in the oven for 30 to 45 minutes. When ready, slice against grain of meat and serve.
• To plate, place a spoonful of the rice on a plate, top with slices of pork tenderloin, and drizzle some of the pesto on top of the pork. Garnish with cilantro.

TEXAS PESTO SHRIMP OVER RICE

Steps:

• Peel shrimp; devein, if desired. Set aside.
• Process cilantro, next 9 ingredients, and 3 tablespoons olive oil in a food processor until smooth.
• Saute shrimp in remaining 1 tablespoon hot olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 3 to 4 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink. Pour cilantro mixture over shrimp, stirring well. Serve shrimp mixture over hot cooked rice.

CREAMY PESTO-SHRIMP & RICE

Steps:

• Cook and stir peppers in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 3 to 4 min. or until crisp-tender. Add shrimp, garlic and lemon juice; cook and stir 2 min.
• Whisk Neufchatel, pasta sauce, milk and pesto until smooth; add to skillet. Cook and stir 2 min or until heated through.
• Serve over rice. Sprinkle with parsley.

PESTO RICE

Steps:

• Place all in a rice cooker cover rice with water. Submerged 1 inch. Press start and relax till done.
• Alternate Method of cooking:.
• Or cook stove top adding 2 cups water to all ingredients.
• Bring to boil and lower to simmer cover and cook for 20 minutes.
• Fluff with fork and enjoy.
• Garnish with pine nuts and basil.

RICE NOODLES WITH CILANTRO PESTO

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of generously salted water to a boil. Combine cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 teaspoons salt, and pepper to taste in the bowl of a food processor, and puree. Remove from the food processor, transfer to a small bowl, and set cilantro pesto aside.
• Melt remaining teaspoon butter in a small saute pan over medium-high heat. Add pine nuts; cook, tossing until golden brown, about 1 minute. Sprinkle with salt, and transfer to a paper towel to drain. Set aside.
• Cook noodles until al dente, about 2 minutes. Drain in a colander. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the cilantro pesto; toss, and garnish with pine nuts.

LAZY PESTO CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Spread rice in the bottom of the baking pan. Layer chicken on top.
• Mix cream of chicken soup, milk, and cheese wedges together in a bowl until smooth. Stir in chicken broth and pesto. Pour over chicken and rice. Cover baking pan tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven carefully; stir. Replace aluminum foil cover. Continue baking until rice is tender, about 15 minutes more. Remove from oven; uncover and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Broil until Parmesan cheese is melted and browned, about 5 minutes.

TOMATOES STUFFED WITH PESTO RICE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Slice the tops off the tomatoes and set aside. Scoop out the insides with a teaspoon, keeping the tomatoes intact. Discard the tomato flesh, but roughly chop the tomato tops. Heat the rice following pack instructions and tip into a bowl. Mix in the chopped tomato, the pesto, three-quarters of the mozzarella, the spinach and seasoning.
• Spoon the rice mixture into the tomatoes and pack tightly into a casserole dish. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese, drizzle with a little olive oil and bake for 20 mins until soft and bubbling.

MEXICAN-STYLE PESTO WITH RICE OR WHOLE GRAIN PASTA

Steps:

• Set aside or prepare the stock.
• Char and blister the chile peppers by placing over a burner, an open flame or under a broiler, and turning until black. Place the charred peppers in a small bowl and cover until cool enough to handle. Peel and seed the peppers and add them to a food processor. Meanwhile, lightly toast nuts and add to the processor bowl. Add the cilantro, spicy greens, marjoram, garlic, cumin, lime juice, a splash of stock, salt, and pepper, then pour in about 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil and pulse the processor to form the pesto sauce. Place in a container, cover, and store in the refrigerator for a make-ahead meal.
• To serve, place the pesto in the bottom of a large serving bowl. Heat a large pot of water to a boil for pasta, salt the water and cook pasta to al dente. Just before draining, add a ladle of starchy cooking water to the pesto, drain the pasta and add the hot pasta to the serving bowl and toss 1 to 2 minutes, serve immediately with grated Manchego on top.
• Place the cheese rind, herb bundle, onion, celery, carrots, lemon rind, bay leaves, chicken stock, and water into a pot and bring to a bubble, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer at least 1 hour, and then remove the rind, herb bundle, and vegetables with a slotted spoon or strainer.

RICE NOODLES WITH BROCCOLI-ALMOND PESTO

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook broccoli florets and stems until bright green and just tender, about 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and let cool slightly. (Reserve water.) Roughly chop 1 cup cooked florets; set aside. In a blender, puree remaining florets, almonds, basil, garlic, and lemon juice. Add olive oil. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Return water to a boil and cook rice noodles, according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, drain noodles, and return to pot. Toss with pesto, adding reserved pasta water until creamy. Top each bowl with chopped florets, small basil leaves, and remaining almonds. Season with pepper.

PESTO RICE-STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the basil, parsley, pecans and garlic; cover and process until blended. Transfer to a small bowl; add the rice, cheeses, oil and chili sauce. , Cut a pocket in each pork chop by slicing almost to the bone. Sprinkle chops with lemon-pepper. , In a large skillet, brown chops in butter; cool for 5 minutes. Fill with rice mixture; secure with toothpicks if necessary. Place in a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray., Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 28-32 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°. Discard toothpicks.

30-MINUTE PESTO-PARMESAN CHICKEN & RICE SKILLET

Steps:

• Melt butter in large skillet on medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir 3 to 5 min. or until crisp-tender. Add chicken, spinach and pesto; cook 5 min. or until heated through, stirring frequently.
• Add broth and milk; stir. Bring to boil. Stir in rice; simmer on medium-low heat 5 min.
• Remove from heat. Stir in cheese; cover. Let stand 5 min.

CHEESY PESTO RICE 'N CHICKEN BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Toss Panko crumbs in the one tablespoon of melted butter, Set aside.
• In large saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add Flour and whisk together until it starts to turn golden brown. Add milk and then sour cream.
• A little at a time, add shredded cheddar, making sure it gets completely incorporated. Add blue cheese, again making sure it gets stirred in and melted completely.
• Remove from heat and stir in Pesto, followed by remaining ingredients(except for bread crumbs and Romano cheese).
• Pour in to buttered Casserole dish. Top with Romano cheese and bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown on top.

CHICKEN PESTO AND RICE

Steps:

• bring 2 c water 3 T butter garlic and onion powder salt and pepper to a boil.
• Add 1 c rice and half medium onion chopped
• Bring to boil cover and simmer 20 minutes.
• Steam carrots seasoning with salt and pepper and dotting with butter.
• Brown Chicken breasts in hot skillet with 3 T butter.
• Salt and Pepper both sides of chicken.
• add onions and cook til chicken is done and onions are transluscent.
• stir pesto with a knife and spread some on each side of the chicken cooking two minutes on each side.
• remove from heat and slice into strips.
• make a bed of rice on a plate position carrots in a pinwheel position chicken on top of the carrots.
• garnish the mound with onions and feta.
• Enjoy!

PESTO RICE WITH PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Cook the rice in the hot water, simmering over a low heat in a covered pan for around 20 minutes, until all the water has been absorbed.
• When the rice is fully cooked, remove from the heat.
• Add the pesto sauce, pine nuts and parmesan cheese. Stir to mix well.
• If the rice has had a chance to cool at all, you may wish to reheat it at this point- the rice should be hot enough for the mozzarella to melt slightly.
• Serve onto plates and top with the grated mozzarella if desired.
• Enjoy!

ZUCCHINI & PESTO RICE CAKES

Steps:

• Combine rice, zucchini, onion, eggs, breadcrumbs, parmesan and pesto in a medium bowl. Shape into 12 patties.
• Heat oil in a medium frying pan over a moderate heat. Cook patties in batches for 2 - 3 minutes each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
• Serve with a salad and lemon wedges.

BAKED CAULIFLOWER AND RICE RISOTTO WITH MINT PESTO

Steps:

• Make the mint pesto: Process the nuts and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Add the mint, salt, and pepper to taste and pour the oil on top. Process until well blended, adding an extra tablespoon oil if needed. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the baked cauliflower and rice risotto: Heat the olive oil in a large, ovenproof saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until tender and translucent, about 6 minutes. Do not let it brown.
• Add the Arborio rice, salt, and pepper and stir to combine, coating all the rice with the oil. Saute the rice for 3 to 4 minutes, or until some of the grains become translucent.
• Stir in the Cauliflower Rice and saute for 2 minutes.
• Pour the wine into the pan, bring to a simmer, and cook until it has been absorbed, about 3 minutes.
• Pour in 2 cups of the very hot stock or water, bring to a simmer, cover, and place the pan in the oven. Bake until most of the liquid is absorbed but the rice is still slightly undercooked, about 15 to 16 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven and set on the stovetop over medium heat. Add 3/4 cup of superhot stock or water and cook the rice, stirring constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes. Taste the rice for doneness. Ideally, it is a little al dente and the risotto creamy. Stir in the butter, 3/4 cup of the Parmesan, the spinach, if using, and the pesto. Adjust the consistency with additional stock, if needed; season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve immediately with the remaining Parmesan on the side.
• Place the cauliflower in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse for about 30 seconds, or until you get very small pieces (resembling snow or rice).