Pesto Baked Hen Thighs - Minimalist Baker Recipes

Golden brown pesto baked chicken thighs in a cast iron skillet

Typically we put up what we’re consuming on Instagram and also you need the recipe immediately. Ready for good issues is onerous, however you’ve proved you are able to do onerous issues. The anticipate our pesto baked rooster thighs is lastly over, and we now have a sense the recipe can be on repeat in your kitchens!

This garlicky, herby dish comes collectively in simply 20 minutes and pairs properly with absolutely anything, together with salads, pasta, potatoes, and roasted veggies. Let’s make it!

Boneless skinless chicken thighs, pesto, olive oil, dried Italian herbs, red pepper flakes, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper

These EASY pesto baked rooster thighs start with seasoning the rooster with garlic powder, dried Italian herbs, salt, pepper, crimson pepper flakes, and PESTO! The combination is savory and salty with just a little herbiness and a kick of warmth.

Mixing pesto, dried Italian herbs, red pepper flakes, and chicken thighs in a bowl

Subsequent, we sear the rooster in a forged iron skillet to create a golden brown exterior that seals in its juiciness. One other 5-10 extra minutes within the oven and it’s cooked by. Letting it relaxation for an extra 5 minutes out of the oven permits the meat to reabsorb its juices, leaving you with tender, completely cooked rooster!

Golden brown chicken thighs in a cast iron skillet

We hope you LOVE this pesto rooster! It’s:

Herby
Garlicky
Somewhat spicy
Savory
Juicy on the within
Golden on the skin
& SO versatile!

This dish is a superb staple entrée to have in your rotation as a result of it pairs properly with nearly something! It’s scrumptious with roasted veggies (potatoes, eggplant, and/or asparagus), pesto pasta salad, inexperienced salads, and a lot extra.

Extra Simple, Satisfying Entrées

Should you do this recipe, tell us! Depart a remark, price it, and don’t overlook to tag a photograph @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, mates!

Pesto pasta swirled on a fork next to a pesto chicken thigh and roasted vegetables

Prep Time 5 minutes

Prepare dinner Time 15 minutes

Complete Time 20 minutes

Servings 4 (Hen thighs)

Course Entrée

Delicacies Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free

Freezer Pleasant No

Does it maintain? 2-3 Days

Prepare dinner ModeStop your display screen from going darkish

4 (~6 oz. every) boneless, skinless rooster thighs (natural, pasture-raised when potential // 4 thighs are ~1 ½ lbs // bone in, pores and skin on additionally work)
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp dried Italian herb mix (or dried oregano + basil)
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp crimson pepper flakes (omit/scale back for much less warmth)
3-4 Tbsp basil pesto (store-bought* or home made // dairy-free as wanted)
2 tsp olive oil (use much less for skin-on rooster thighs)

Preheat oven to 375 levels F (190 C) and set out a large cast iron skillet (10-12 inch).
To a mixing bowl, add the rooster thighs, garlic powder, dried Italian herbs, salt, pepper, crimson pepper flakes, and pesto. Combine properly till evenly coated, including 1 Tbsp extra pesto if utilizing home made (it isn’t normally as concentrated in taste).
Warmth the forged iron skillet over medium-high warmth. Add oil and wait 1 minute for it to get scorching. Add rooster thighs (pores and skin aspect down if utilizing skin-on) and prepare dinner till golden brown on the underside, about 3-4 minutes. Then flip and prepare dinner for 2-3 minutes extra.
As soon as browned on either side, fastidiously switch the skillet to the oven (utilizing an oven mitt) and bake till the interior temperature reads 170F / 76C (make sure that to insert into the middle and never hit bone for an correct studying) — about 5-10 minutes, relying on the scale of your rooster thighs.
Take away from the oven and let relaxation within the pan for ~5 minutes earlier than serving.
Finest when recent, although leftovers will maintain lined within the fridge for as much as 2-3 days. Reheat within the oven or microwave till scorching. Not freezer pleasant.

*Retailer-bought dairy-free pestos we’ve tried and revel in: Gotham Greens Vegan Pesto, Le Grand Backyard Pesto, and Dealer Joe’s Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto.
*We favor searing on the stovetop earlier than baking for greatest taste and texture. Cooking on the stovetop solely doesn’t work as properly as a result of the outside is liable to burning earlier than the rooster is cooked by.
*If you wish to bake solely and skip searing on the stovetop, you may place the seasoned rooster thighs on a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet sprayed/rubbed with oil. Bake at 425 F / 218 C for 20-Half-hour, flipping midway by, till the interior temperature reads 170 F / 76C (make sure that to insert into the middle for an correct studying). They don’t get as crispy however are nonetheless scrumptious!
*Loosely tailored from our Pesto “Parmesan” Turkey Meatballs.
*Vitamin info is a tough estimate calculated with boneless skinless thighs and the lesser quantities the place ranges are supplied.

Serving: 1 serving Energy: 248 Carbohydrates: 2.4 g Protein: 35 g Fats: 11 g Saturated Fats: 2.1 g Polyunsaturated Fats: 2.1 g Monounsaturated Fats: 5.4 g Trans Fats: 0 g Ldl cholesterol: 144 mg Sodium: 366 mg Potassium: 503 mg Fiber: 0.9 g Sugar: 0.2 g Vitamin A: 123 IU Vitamin C: 2.5 mg Calcium: 26 mg Iron: 2.3 mg