Baked Pesto Alfredo Chicken

5 from 10 votes

Aug 27, 2019, Updated Aug 10, 2024

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Baked Pesto Alfredo Chicken is a delicious, 30-minute recipe that combines the creamy goodness of Alfredo with the deep flavors of pesto. It’s low carb, keto-friendly, and gluten-free! Serve it over zucchini noodles, and you’ll see why this is the best Alfredo Chicken—no pasta needed!

Baked Pesto Alfredo Chicken in a skillet.

Pesto Alfredo Chicken combines my favorite homemade Alfredo sauce with basil pesto poured over seared chicken breasts and baked to a creamy and ridiculously good dinner perfection. It is a 5-ish ingredient recipe that makes a quick weeknight meal and is approved by kids and adults alike. It’s like an elevated version of my crack chicken recipe, packed with even more flavor! Let’s put it this way – I’ve never had leftovers!

I mean, how can butter, garlic, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and pesto NOT result in a dinner of epic proportions? Right!?! It’s a total bomb of deliciousness, similar to this very popular recipe for creamy pesto chicken. And if you’re looking for a classic chicken Alfredo, hop on over to my recipe for skinny chicken fettuccine.

What You’ll Need

Bacon (diced): Adds a smoky, salty flavor and crispy texture to the dish. It also renders fat for cooking the chicken.
Olive Oil: Used to sear the chicken and prevent sticking. You can substitute it with avocado oil or another neutral cooking oil.
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: You can use boneless chicken thighs, too.
Chicken Seasoning Blend: Enhances the flavor of the chicken with a mix of herbs and spices. You can use your favorite store-bought chicken seasoning or create your own blend of garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Homemade Alfredo Sauce (linked below): This sauce combines creamy Alfredo with the fresh, bold flavor of basil pesto, adding richness to the dish. You can substitute with regular Alfredo sauce mixed with 2 tablespoons of basil pesto for a similar effect.
Chopped Fresh Basil (for garnish): Adds a fresh, vibrant finish to the dish, complementing the basil pesto in the sauce. If you don’t have fresh basil, you can use chopped parsley or skip the garnish altogether.

How To Make Pesto Alfredo Chicken

Here’s how the magic happens! With just a few simple steps, you’ll have a delicious, creamy, and flavorful chicken dish ready to serve.

Alfredo Sauce and basil pesto mix in a bowl.

Alfredo Sauce and Basil Pesto poured over chicken breasts.

Fry some bacon. YUM!
Season boneless, skinless chicken breasts with this amazing Chicken Seasoning Blend and brown them in the bacon fat. Double YUM! You can also just use salt and pepper on the chicken – your call.
In the meantime, either use my recipe for the alfredo sauce or grab a cup of jarred sauce and mix in 2 tablespoons of basil pesto. I like a strong basil taste, but if you don’t, use less of it.
Take the sauce and pour it over the chicken breasts.
Cover chicken with foil and bake for about 25 minutes or until done.
Remove from oven, sprinkle with previously prepared bacon and chopped fresh basil, then serve.

Alfredo Pesto Chicken sprinkled with bacon.

Recipe Tips

Cooking vessel. Do not use a large baking dish. If you do, the sauce will spread far and wide – you want that sauce to stay close to the chicken. I would say not to use anything bigger than a 9 x 13 dish. For best results, use a round oven-safe skillet.
Use store-bought sauce. If you don’t have time to make your own low-carb Alfredo sauce, you can always use store-bought.
Taste test. Taste the Alfredo + Pesto sauce before pouring it over the chicken – adjust the flavor as needed. I almost always mix in a bit more basil pesto.

Serving Suggestions

Ultimately, you’ll have this juicy and saucy pesto chicken to serve with a Kardashian salad or over pasta or cauliflower rice. You can also pair it with roasted parmesan vegetables, keto garlic bread, or a light quinoa salad.

And for dessert, why not finish with a classic Tiramisu ice cream or a slice of marble cake!

How To Make Ahead

You can make this recipe 1 day ahead of time. Place chicken breasts in a baking dish or oven-safe skillet; pour the Alfredo Pesto Sauce over the chicken breasts and cover with foil. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Take chicken out of the refrigerator 15 minutes before cooking; pop it in the oven and bake per instructions. You might need to add 3 to 5 more minutes to the cooking time if you didn’t brown the chicken breasts beforehand.
In the meantime, fry the bacon and sprinkle it over the chicken before serving.

Alfredo Pesto Chicken Breasts cut in half.

How To Store Leftovers

Store completely cooled Pesto Alfredo Chicken in an airtight container, and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Easy Creamy Pesto Recipes

ENJOY!

Pin this now to find it later

Pin It

Save Pin Print

5 from 10 votes