Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Everyday ItalianEpisode: Power of Pesto

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (183)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(183)

Cook Time:
8 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 servings

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 8 min
Total:: 23 min

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Ingredients

2 boneless chicken breasts
2 cups lightly packed baby spinach leaves (about 2 ounces)
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 to 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Directions

Heat a grill pan on medium high heat. Lightly oil the grill pan. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Grill the chicken until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.

Combine the spinach, pine nuts, lemon juice, and lemon peel in a processor. Lightly pulse. With the machine running, gradually add 1/3 cup of the oil, blending until the mixture is creamy. Add salt and pulse. Put half of the pesto into ice cube trays and store in the freezer for future use.

Transfer the rest of the spinach mixture to a medium bowl. Stir in the Parmesan. Season the pesto with salt and pepper, to taste.

Spread the pesto over each piece of chicken and serve.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto
Rachael Raleigh, NC 11-11-2009
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Great flavor
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is such a yummy reciipe I have made it several times for friends and family. Every time I make it people think I am an... amazing chef. It is also great on pasta and fish. Thanks Giada for making me look good to my friends and family. Read more
recipe Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto
Kim Clarkston, MI 11-09-2009
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Healthy
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

The pesto was a nice compliment to the chicken. I had purchased a 5.00 small jar of pesto that I really do not care for.... After making the pesto from spinach I had my husband do a taste test of mine and store bought. He over whelmingly picked the store bought pesto. Personally I do not care for basil so I picked the spinach pesto. He was right that the store bought had much more flavor although it was a flavor i did not care for. Next time I will add more of the pine nuts and maybe some garlic to add more flavor. Over all it was good but not excellent. Read more
recipe Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto
Mandy Marietta, GA 09-10-2009
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Love it!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This chicken recipe is great! The pesto is perfect and my husband who doesn't like spinach even ate it.
recipe Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto
Courtney Fort Worth, TX 08-06-2009
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Besto Pesto!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This was AWESOME! This is the best recipe I have made in a long time. I made 3 batches and froze a bunch. I also put in... two garlic cloves for each batch. Delicious! I think this pesto would be great on shrimp as well! Going to try that tomorrow!Read more
recipe Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto
Amanda westerly, RI 07-30-2009
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Presto Pesto!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made the pesto tonight and it was very tasty! I was hesitant to try this recipe because I thought using spinach would make... it bitter but it wasn't at all. It's almost hard to believe you can make something this good so fast but it's true. Instead of chicken I had it over tortellini. At first, I thought it might be too cheesy using this type of pasta but I think the ricotta inside the pasta gave it just the right bite of flavor and balance . As previous reviewers suggested, I added garlic (2 cloves) and just a couple leaves of basil to keep things interesting. I'm not sure if the basil flavor really came through but all in all this recipe is a keeper.Read more
recipe Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto
Kimberly Manville, NJ 07-29-2009
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Love it!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I LOVE this recipe. I typically double it and pour it over whole wheat penne to make it a complete meal. I also buy a... rotisserie chicken from Costco to cut up into it, but if I do grill the chicken myself I think the Newman's "lighten up" balsamic dressing makes a great and easy marinade that compliments the flavors well. I also like to use seasoned salt and a pepper blend to season it. Hightly recommend it and it's soooo easy, especially if you buy the chicken already cooked!Read more