Description
Cilantro Pesto Chicken Tenders is a quick, fresh, and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken coated in a vibrant cilantro pesto with zesty citrus notes, perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings. This easy-to-make recipe balances herbaceous depth with bright flavors, offering a healthy and versatile meal option that’s enjoyable for the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb fresh boneless chicken tenders
Cilantro Pesto
- 2 cups fresh cilantro leaves, packed
- 1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Cilantro Pesto: Combine fresh cilantro, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan, lemon juice, and olive oil in a food processor. Blend until smooth but still slightly textured, then season with salt and pepper to taste. This pesto will be your flavorful coating for the chicken.
- Coat the Chicken Tenders: Place the chicken tenders in a bowl or shallow dish and toss them with about half of the cilantro pesto until each piece is well coated. Allow to marinate for 10-15 minutes if time permits to enhance flavor.
- Cook the Chicken Tenders: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with a small drizzle of olive oil. Cook the chicken tenders for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through. The pesto will caramelize slightly, adding color and taste.
- Serve with Extra Pesto: Transfer the cooked tenders to a serving plate and drizzle with the remaining cilantro pesto or serve it on the side as a dipping sauce for an extra burst of flavor.
Notes
- Use bright, fresh cilantro for best pesto flavor.
- Watch the chicken closely to avoid overcooking and ensure tenderness.
- Taste the pesto before adding salt since Parmesan adds saltiness.
- Use good quality extra virgin olive oil to enhance the pesto’s richness.
- Prepare the cilantro pesto a day ahead to deepen the flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Pan-Seared
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 4 chicken tenders with pesto)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg