Pesto Zucchini Chicken Bowl (Printable Page)

Tender chicken, spiralized zucchini, and aromatic basil pesto combine in this light, nutritious Mediterranean bowl.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs), cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
05 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs

→ Zucchini Noodles

06 - 4 medium zucchinis (about 1.5 lbs), spiralized
07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Pesto

09 - 1/2 cup basil pesto, store-bought or homemade
10 - Juice of 1/2 lemon

→ Garnishes

11 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
13 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish

# Steps:

01 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces, season with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs. Sauté for 7-9 minutes until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.
02 - In the same skillet, add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add spiralized zucchini and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, tossing gently, until just tender but still crisp.
03 - Remove skillet from heat. Return cooked chicken to the pan. Add basil pesto and lemon juice. Toss gently until well combined and heated through.
04 - Divide the pesto zucchini chicken mixture among four bowls. Top each bowl with grated Parmesan, toasted pine nuts, and fresh basil if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes indulgent but keeps you energized instead of weighed down after lunch.
  • You can prep the zucchini noodles ahead and toss everything together in under ten minutes on a busy night.
  • The pesto does all the flavor work so you dont need a long ingredient list or complicated technique.
  • Leftovers actually improve because the zucchini soaks up more pesto as it sits in the fridge.
02 -
  • Dont cook the zucchini noodles longer than three minutes or they release water and make the bowl watery instead of saucy.
  • Add the pesto off the heat so it stays bright green and aromatic instead of turning dull and bitter from high heat.
  • If your chicken pieces are uneven in size, flatten them gently with your palm before cutting so they cook at the same rate.
03 -
  • Use a paper towel to blot the zucchini noodles after spiralizing if they seem wet, which prevents a watery sauce.
  • Let the chicken rest for a minute after cooking so the juices redistribute and every bite stays tender instead of dry.
  • Buy pesto with visible basil leaves and olive oil listed first on the label, it makes a noticeable difference in flavor.
Go Back