Flavorful Gluten Free Baked Pesto Chicken Parmesan

Get ready for a clever and gluten free version of chicken parmesan that you wish you would’ve tried years ago. I am so excited to share this one with you!!! I am a huge lover of chicken parmesan and have made it countless times since going gluten free. After some time online the other day, I found an amazing new take on your typical chicken parmesan, adding pesto to the mix! That’s right, by adding a pesto layer to your traditional chicken parmesan you create a Baked Pesto Chicken Parmesan that is overflowing with flavor. I cannot believe I never thought to combine one of my favorite dishes with one of my favorite sauces. Thank you Iowa Girl Eats for an ingenious idea! This is a brilliant combination that was added to my recipe book immediately and is definitely one that you should try!

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb skinless chicken breasts (2-3 chicken breasts cut in half or in thirds)
  • 1/3 cup pesto (Cento or Bellino)
  • 1 cup tomato sauce (Tuttorosso, I add fresh garlic, parsley, basil, oregano, and garlic salt)
  • 8 oz sliced fresh mozzarella (BelGioioso)
  • Salt and Pepper
Gluten Free Pesto Chicken Parmesan Ingredients
Gluten Free Pesto Chicken Parmesan Ingredients

Directions: 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Prepare tomato sauce by adding desired amounts of fresh garlic, basil, parsley, oregano, and garlic salt to a can of Tuttorosso tomato sauce. Alternatively you can use the tomato sauce straight from the can or prepared sauce from a jar. 
My homemade tomato sauce.
My homemade tomato sauce.
  • Trim the chicken breasts (I had 2) and carefully cut into halves or thirds depending on your desired thickness.
  • Add chicken to 9″ x 12″ baking dish and season with salt and pepper.
Pesto Chicken Parm Blog Pics (3)
Two chicken breasts sliced into thinner portions and dusted with salt and pepper.
  • Layer pesto on top of chicken breasts making sure to coat evenly.
Layer the chicken breasts with pesto sauce.
Layer the chicken breasts with pesto sauce.
  • Cover chicken breasts with tomato sauce and lay fresh mozzarella on top. 
Add red sauce and fresh mozzarella on top of chicken and bake.
Add tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella on top of chicken and bake.
  • Cover with foil tightly and bake for 20 minutes.
All baked up and ready to enjoy!
All baked up and ready to enjoy!
  • Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and cheese is golden brown and bubbly
Chicken with a side of extra fine string beans!
Chicken with a side of extra fine string beans!
  • Enjoy the chicken with any desired vegetable on the side and be sure to cover the chicken with plenty of sauce! 
Pesto Chicken Parm Blog Pics (9)
A close up of this flavorful chicken dish. I cannot wait to make it again!

I cannot say enough good things about this recipe. The combination of pesto and tomato creates an incredible sauce that envelopes the mozzarella covered chicken. The chicken is especially moist and absorbs all of the flavors of the amazing sauce combination perfectly. When serving, pair this with a generous side of extra thin string beans and make sure to ladle extra sauce atop the chicken to enjoy all of the tasty goodness in each bite. I must say, this dish was absolutely delicious and brought an instant smile to my little girl’s face with her first bite (and I believe an “mmmm” accompanied that too). This is definitely a keeper for us and I cannot wait to enjoy this flavor combination again!

Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

 

 

Flavorful Gluten Free Baked Pesto Chicken Parmesan
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
45 min
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
45 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (2-3 chicken breasts)
  2. 1/3 cup pesto (Cento or Bellino)
  3. 1 cup tomato sauce (Tuttorosso which I season with fresh garlic, parsley, basil, oregano, and garlic salt)
  4. 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese (BelGioioso cheeses are gluten free)
  5. Salt and pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Prepare tomato sauce (either use straight from jar or can or add additional seasonings as I do with unseasoned Tuttorosso sauce).
  3. Trim chicken breasts and cut in half or in thirds depending on width of chicken breast.
  4. Add chicken to 9" x 12" baking dish.
  5. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
  6. Layer pesto on top of chicken and evenly coat.
  7. Spoon tomato sauce on top of chicken and layer with fresh mozzarella.
  8. Cover baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
  9. Remove foil and bake for about 10 more minutes (cheese should be golden brown and bubbly).
Adapted from Iowa Girl Eats
Adapted from Iowa Girl Eats
Gluten Free Mom To Be http://www.glutenfreemomtobe.com/

 

 

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