These pesto chicken bites are packed full of the yummy flavours we adore in pesto: basil, pine nuts and Parmesan cheese, while also having a crispy, light breadcrumb coating. Easy to make and no hassle to cook – as they bake in the oven – they’re a tasty and healthy family dinner.
Prep Time 5 minutesminutes
Cook Time 20 minutesminutes
Servings 4people
Author Mas & Pas
Ingredients
4chicken fillets
200gramspesto(ready made or homemade - see below)
100gramsbreadcrumbs
Quick homemade basil and spinach pesto (optional)
35gramspine nuts
25gramsfresh basil leaves
25gramsfresh spinach leaves
35gramsParmesan cheese
½clovegarlic
100mlolive oil
salt and pepper
Instructions
Quick homemade basil and spinach pesto (optional)
Blend the pine nuts, basil, spinach and garlic together with the first 50 ml of olive oil.
Using a spatula scrape the mixture off of the edges of the mixer and keep blending until smooth.
Then add the remaining 50 ml of oil slowly, followed by the Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste.
You should end up with a smooth and creamy pesto.
Baked chicken pesto bites
Preheat oven to 180°C or (350°F) fan setting.
Chop the chicken fillets into cubes or chunky short strips.
Place the pieces in a bowl and add in 1 tablespoon of pesto for each chicken fillet. If you’re using 4 chicken fillets, you would add in 4 full tablespoons of pesto.
Mix the chicken pieces and pesto well until all the pieces are covered. Set aside.
In a mixer, give the breadcrumbs a quick whizz until they’re a fine crumb. Lay them out on a shallow bowl or plate.
Take each pesto covered chicken piece and roll it in the breadcrumbs until coated.
Then place them on an oven tray, lined with baking paper.
Cook on the middle shelf of your preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until the pieces are cooked through and golden.
Serve with a pesto dip. These bites also go well with a tomato mozzarella salad or herby couscous.
Notes
If you have a child with tree nut allergies, but want to make the homemade pesto, then you can replace the pine nuts in the recipe with sunflower seeds. They're just as tasty.