This Chicken with Pesto Cream Sauce is low carb comfort food at its finest! Grilled Garlic Chicken is smothered with a Creamy Pesto Alfredo sauce making it a decadent keto-friendly dinner!
Let’s talk about those days. You know what I mean. Those days you just shouldn’t have gotten out of bed, the days you need a redo before it even starts, the days where you just don’t quite have it together.
This is the perfect dinner for one of those days. It is easy, requires minimal dishes or ingredients, and will totally hit the comfort food spot for you!
This chicken is amazing with my favorite Mashed Cauliflower, but it also works well with zucchini noodles, or on it’s own! It also reheats well for low carb meal prep!
Ingredients for Chicken with Pesto Cream Sauce
As always, this is just a quick overview of the ingredients you will need for this recipe. To find the complete recipe and instructions just keep scrolling.
- Chicken: I use chicken breast, but another cut such as thighs would also work.
- Olive Oil
- Spices: Italian Seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper
- Pesto: this is my favorite pesto recipe (so good!) but store bought also works.
- Heavy Cream
- Parmesan: good quality grated parmesan.
- White wine or Chicken broth
How do you make Pesto Cream Sauce?
This sauce is a great cross between pesto and Alfredo sauce. It is rich, creamy, and loaded with fresh basil flavor! It is also a cinch to make; just follow these simple steps:
- Heat a large skillet to medium heat. Add the white wine (or chicken broth) to the skillet, bring the wine to a simmer and add the pesto and heavy cream. Stir the mixture and reduce the heat too low.
- Stir in the parmesan until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Simmer, while stirring occasionally until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
What to serve with Keto Pesto Chicken?
My go to low carb side dish are these Cheddar Garlic Keto Biscuits! They are a perfect low carb Red Lobster Biscuit copycat! Each cheesy biscuit has 2 net carbs each and is loaded with flavor! These pair perfectly with this low carb chicken. Some other amazing side dish options include low carb salads, veggies, and casseroles:
- Garlic Butter Mashed Cauliflower
- Air Fryer Garlic Butter Broccoli
- Zucchini Mozzarella Wraps
- Cacio e Pepe Zoodles
How many carbs are in this Pesto Chicken?
The complete nutritional information for this recipe can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. This recipe serves 4 people, with a generous serving size and comes to 1.3 net carbs each!
Other Pesto Recipes
- Pesto Chicken Stuffed Sweet Peppers
- Keto Pesto Chicken Bake
- Homemade Basil Pesto
- Easy Keto Pesto Chicken Ravioli
Chicken with Pesto Cream Sauce (keto + low carb)
This Chicken with Pesto Cream Sauce is low carb comfort food at it's finest! Grilled Garlic Chicken is smothered with a Creamy Pesto Alfredo sauce making it a decadent keto-friendly dinner!
Ingredients
Garlic Chicken
- 1.5 pounds chicken breast, fat trimmed
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, crushed
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Pesto Cream Sauce
- 1/3 cup white wine (or chicken broth)
- 3/4 cup pesto
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup small tomatoes (optional: see notes below)
Instructions
- For the Garlic Chicken: Combine the olive oil, garlic, lemon and spices in a small bowl and stir until combined.
- Place the sliced chicken breast in a plastic bag and pour marinade over the chicken. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
- Heat grill to medium heat (about 375 degrees) and grill chicken 4-5 minutes on each side until the chicken has reached an internal temp of 165 degrees.
- For the Pesto Cream Sauce: Heat a large deep skillet or a medium size sauce pan to medium heat.
- Add the white wine and pesto and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream and parmesan. Stir the mixture and allow it to simmer over low heat until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Serve each chicken grilled chicken breast with pesto cream sauce and diced tomatoes if desired.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with 1/4 cup cream sauceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 282Total Fat: 16.9gCholesterol: 141mgSodium: 226mgCarbohydrates: 1.4gNet Carbohydrates: 1.3gFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.5gProtein: 68g
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Carbs and Parmesan definitely make everything better! This is my kind of meal, especially with the pesto cream sauce. Looks fantastic!
Medha@+Whisk+&+Shout says
That pesto cream sauce sounds amazing! 🙂
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
A creamy pasta dish can fix any bad day. 🙂
Looks delish!
Natalie+@+Tastes+Lovely says
Hugs to you friend. Those days are the WORST! But pasta and cheese always makes that better. And wine. Lots of wine. Haha! This is going to be on the dinner menu very soon : )
Deb @ Cooking on the Front Burner says
I’ve been wanting to make a pesto cream sauce – timely for me and great recipe!
Karen says
Tell me about that pasta you used….restaurant quality… was it gluten free…brand???
Maebells says
Yes! I used Barilla Gluten Free Penne and the bread is gluten free Rosemary Focaccia from Canyon Bakehouse! Would you have ever thought a pasta dinner with bread would have been possible gluten free?! I know I didn’t! 🙂
Melanie | Melanie Makes says
Helloooooo, comfort food! I’ve got to try this one soon, Annie!
marcie says
Those days are terrible, and if a critter ran across my foot I’d do the same thing! Carbs will definitely do the job, especially when smothered in this delicious, pesto cream sauce! Glad your day ended much better. 🙂
Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie says
This looks SO delicious! The perfect meal!
Laura |Petite Allergy Treats says
Days like that never seem to end fast enough! But you sure did have a happy ending with these creamy carb loaded pasta! Mmm… From one carb addict to another, just looking at this pasta makes me happy. 😀
Ashlyn+@+Belle+of+the+Kitchen says
Girl, you totally earned this no matter WHAT the animal was, lizard or otherwise! I love everything about this meal; carbs, parm, garlic…. the perfect cure for a bad day!
Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling says
Ha! I totally know those days…and all you can do is laugh….and drown your sorrows in a big plate of delicious pasta! This is the perfect comfort meal!
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
I screamed the other night because a moth landed near me. I would have been inconsolable if an unknown critter ran across my foot! I definitely have those OOF days and this pasta looks like just the thing to make it better! Looooove all these flavors!
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
Yep, carbs and cheese totally fix everything. 🙂 Every time! And this pesto cream sauce… YUM! I’m obsessed with pesto lately. Such a great summer meal!
Maebells says
I have eaten my weight in this stuff!! 🙂 Thanks Jess!
Tasha @thatssoyummy says
LOVE everything about this dish, it’s screaming EAT ME!
Samantha says
I made this with my mom and it was delicious, thank you so much! We got to spend time together and make a great meal that everyone enjoyed.