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Creamy Pesto Chicken Thighs with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

creamy pesto chicken thighs - featured image
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A quick and easy recipe featuring juicy bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs cooked in a creamy pesto sauce with tangy sun-dried tomatoes. Perfect for cozy dinners and busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds / 900g)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (packed in oil preferred)
  • ½ cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
  • ¾ cup heavy cream (180 ml) or half-and-half for lighter sauce
  • ½ cup low sodium chicken broth (120 ml)
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Place chicken thighs skin side down and press gently to ensure contact. Cook for 5-7 minutes until skin is golden and crisp. Flip and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet; sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not burnt.
  4. Pour in ½ cup chicken broth, scraping browned bits from the pan. Stir in ½ cup pesto, ¾ cup heavy cream, and ¼ cup grated Parmesan. Simmer gently for 3-5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
  5. Nestle chicken thighs back into the sauce, skin side up. Cover loosely and simmer on low for 10 minutes or until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
  6. Just before serving, stir in 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Notes

Use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for juiciness and crisp skin. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with canned coconut milk and Parmesan with nutritional yeast. To keep skin crispy, avoid microwave reheating leftovers. Adjust simmer time if using boneless thighs. Adding lemon juice at the end brightens the flavors.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy pesto chicken, chicken thighs, sun-dried tomatoes, easy dinner, quick recipe, comfort food, weeknight meal, creamy sauce

Find it online: https://bakebelle.com/creamy-pesto-chicken-thighs-with-sun-dried-tomatoes-easy-recipe/