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Pesto Chicken Flatbread is a simple yet delicious dish that brings together juicy grilled chicken, fresh basil pesto, mozzarella cheese, and crispy flatbread. It’s a perfect balance of flavors with a crispy, cheesy base and a delightful pesto finish. This recipe is versatile and easy to prepare, making it a fantastic option for a quick weeknight dinner or casual gathering.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup fresh basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
4 pieces of flatbread (store-bought or homemade)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh basil leaves (for garnish, optional)

Directions

Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Prepare the Chicken:
Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. You can add garlic powder or Italian seasoning if desired.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 6-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F or 75°C).
Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing it into thin strips.
Prepare the Flatbread:
Lay out the flatbreads on a baking sheet. Spread a generous layer of basil pesto over each piece, ensuring an even coating.
Assemble the Flatbread:
Distribute the sliced chicken evenly over the pesto-covered flatbreads. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top, followed by halved cherry tomatoes. Finish with grated Parmesan cheese.
Bake the Flatbreads:
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the edges are golden brown. For a crispy top, switch to broil for the last 1-2 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning.
Serve:
Once baked, remove the flatbreads from the oven and let them cool for a minute. Slice into quarters or halves and garnish with fresh basil leaves, if desired. Serve warm with a side salad or your favorite dipping sauce.

Nutrients

Calories: 400 kcal
Carbohydrates: 32g
Protein: 30g
Fat: 24g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Cholesterol: 75mg
Sodium: 630mg
Potassium: 529mg
Fiber: 3g
Sugar: 6g
Vitamin A: 402 IU
Vitamin C: 22mg
Calcium: 200mg
Iron: 2mg

The Chicken: Tender and Flavorful

The star of this dish is the perfectly cooked chicken, which provides the protein and the savory backbone of the flatbread. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are seasoned with salt and pepper and seared until golden brown and cooked through. The chicken is then sliced into thin strips, allowing it to be easily spread across the flatbread. The goal is to create a juicy, tender chicken that remains flavorful without overpowering the other ingredients.

While the chicken breasts are resting, their juices redistribute, ensuring each slice remains moist and full of flavor. The choice of using chicken breasts makes this dish lean yet satisfying, balancing the richness of the pesto and cheese with the lightness of the protein.

Pesto: Fresh and Herby

Pesto is a key element in this dish, providing the fresh, herbal, and slightly garlicky flavor that elevates the entire recipe. Whether you’re using store-bought pesto or making your own from fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, it’s the vibrant, herby sauce that ties everything together. A generous spread of pesto on the flatbread creates the base for the chicken, cheese, and tomatoes, infusing every bite with deliciously fragrant basil.

If you’re feeling adventurous, feel free to experiment with different variations of pesto, such as sun-dried tomato pesto, arugula pesto, or even kale pesto for a twist on the classic.

The Cheese: Mozzarella and Parmesan

The combination of shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese brings a wonderful richness to this dish. The mozzarella melts beautifully, creating a creamy, gooey texture that pairs perfectly with the crispiness of the flatbread. The Parmesan, on the other hand, adds a sharp, nutty flavor that enhances the overall taste profile of the dish.

As the flatbreads bake in the oven, the cheeses melt and bubble, creating a golden, cheesy topping that’s impossible to resist.

The Flatbread: The Perfect Base

The flatbread provides the perfect crunchy, yet soft, base for the toppings. Whether you choose to make your own or use store-bought flatbread, it’s the perfect canvas for this delicious dish. Flatbread is great for this recipe because it bakes quickly and provides a light yet hearty base for the pesto, chicken, and cheese. The edges get crispy in the oven, creating a delightful contrast with the gooey cheese and tender chicken.

How to Make Pesto Chicken Flatbread

This dish is easy to make, taking just a few steps to bring everything together:

Prepare the Chicken: Start by seasoning the chicken breasts with salt and pepper (and any additional seasonings, like garlic powder or Italian seasoning). Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook the chicken for 6-7 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and let it rest for 5 minutes. Once rested, slice the chicken into thin strips.
Prepare the Flatbread: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Lay the flatbreads on a baking sheet, and spread a generous layer of basil pesto over each piece, ensuring even coverage.
Assemble the Flatbread: Distribute the sliced chicken evenly over the pesto-covered flatbreads. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese on top, followed by halved cherry tomatoes. Finish by adding the grated Parmesan cheese for an extra cheesy touch.
Bake the Flatbreads: Place the flatbreads in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges of the flatbread are golden brown. For an extra crispy top, switch the oven to broil for the last 1-2 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning.
Serve: Once baked, remove the flatbreads from the oven and let them cool for a minute before slicing them into quarters or halves. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, if desired, and serve with a side salad or dipping sauce.

Serving Suggestions for Pesto Chicken Flatbread

This dish is quite versatile and can be served in many ways:

With a Side Salad: Pair this flatbread with a fresh side salad to balance out the richness. A simple arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette or a Caesar salad would complement the dish nicely.
With Dipping Sauces: Serve with a side of extra pesto for dipping or a tangy balsamic glaze. A side of marinara sauce could also be a great option for those who like a bit of tomato sauce with their pizza-style dishes.
As a Party Dish: Pesto Chicken Flatbread makes an excellent appetizer or party dish. Slice it into smaller pieces and serve it as finger food at gatherings or casual events.
With Roasted Vegetables: Add a side of roasted vegetables, like zucchini, bell peppers, or asparagus, to enhance the meal with more veggies and flavor.

Nutritional Information

Each serving of Pesto Chicken Flatbread contains approximately 400 calories. It provides 30g of protein from the chicken and 24g of fat, including 10g of saturated fat from the cheeses. The dish has 32g of carbohydrates, with 3g of fiber and 6g of sugar. With 200mg of calcium and 2mg of iron, it’s also a good source of essential nutrients.

The dish is moderate in sodium (630mg), so feel free to adjust the salt and soy sauce to taste if you are monitoring your sodium intake.

Conclusion

Pesto Chicken Flatbread is a quick, easy, and flavorful dish that brings together the best of pizza and the classic pesto chicken combination. With its crispy flatbread, juicy chicken, gooey cheese, and rich pesto, this recipe is sure to become a family favorite. Whether you’re serving it as a weeknight dinner, a casual gathering, or an appetizer, it’s simple yet impressive, packed with fresh flavors, and incredibly satisfying.