Chicken Pesto Parmesan Recipe
This chicken pesto parmesan recipe is delicious whether made in the crockpot or in a skillet. We love that this recipe is low carb and keto friendly too!
I have been on a mission recently to find low carb variations of our favorite family meals. What I have discovered along the way is that most of our favorite recipes can be easily made keto friendly with a few simple substitutions.
I have done it with this creamy cauliflower soup and a crockpot Tuscan soup. This absolutely delicious chicken pesto parmesan recipe is one that I adapted from our tried and true sausage pesto pasta and it is just as good.
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I love, love, love the flavor combination of pesto, parmesan cheese, and spinach! I chose to serve this with chicken for a great source of lean protein, but you could absolutely substitute ground turkey or sausage for chicken if you would like.
Chicken Pesto Parmesan Recipe
Ingredients
- Chicken, diced – Tender chunks of chicken soak up all that yummy pesto flavor.
- Pesto – This herby, garlicky basil pesto is the star of the dish.
- Small onion, diced – A sweet and savory addition, the onion blends right into the sauce.
- Parmesan, grated – The perfect cheesy touch that melts into the chicken and pesto for extra creaminess.
- Garlic, minced – Fresh garlic adds a punchy, aromatic kick.
- Fresh spinach – Wilts down, adding a pop of green and a boost of nutrition.
- Pine nuts (reserve for topping) – Toast them for an extra crunchy, nutty topping.
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients into a large freezer bag.
- Freeze up to 3 months.
- Defrost in fridge overnight.
- Cook in a skillet on medium until chicken is cooked through.
- Alternatively place into crockpot and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Tips and Tricks
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs both work well in this recipe.
- If you like an extra creamy sauce, add a bit of heavy cream or cream cheese at the end of cooking.
- If you are serving this dish with pasta, prep the noodles according to package directions, drain well, then stir the pasta into the sauce to soak up all that delicious flavor.
- Top the chicken with mozzarella cheese and a sprinkle of parmesan for a melty, cheesy finish to your dish.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. They are just as delicious the next day.
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Tips for Making Crockpot Freezer Meals
- Use 1-gallon, large freezer bags. Label bags with the date, recipe, and cooking instructions.
- Lay ingredients flat in the bag for easier storage in the freezer.
- Defrost meals in the refrigerator or place frozen into the crockpot. If the meal is defrosted, reduce the cooking time accordingly (subtract two hours for most crockpot meals).
- Crockpot meals can easily be converted to Instant Pot recipes using this handy guide from Taste of Home – How to Convert Slow Cooker Recipes for the Instant Pot.
- Store meals for up to three months in the freezer.
I like to pair this recipe with zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice for the perfect low carb family meal!
My kids prefer to have their chicken pesto parmesan with zucchini noodles, mostly because they like to use the spiralizer to create the noodles themselves!
Did you know that Costco now sells spiralized zucchini noodles? I have seen them in the produce cooler. Be sure to salt the noodles, lay them out flat on paper towel, and pat dry after a few minutes to prevent excess moisture being added to your recipe.
Be sure to check out these Crockpot Freezer Meals and Meal Planning Recipes for more tips and ideas.
If you love this chicken pesto parmesan recipe, please give it a five-star review and help me share it on Facebook and Pinterest so that others can enjoy it too!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken diced
- 200 ml pesto
- 1 small onion diced
- 1/2 cup parmesan grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 1/4 cup pine nuts reserve for topping
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients into a large freezer bag.
- Freeze up to 3 months.
- Defrost in fridge overnight.
- Cook in a skillet on medium until chicken is cooked through.
- Alternatively place into crockpot and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Nutrition
Save this recipe?
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Do you have nutritional facts on this? Being Keto I like to see the counts of carbs + sugars :)
No, sorry! In the process of updating my recipes to include this :)