These pesto chicken thighs are the juiciest and more flavorful chicken thighs you will ever make! With only 5 grams net carbs, they are perfectly low-carb.
Low-Carb Pesto Chicken
Are you looking for a healthy and nutritious meal your kids will love? Look no further! Low-carb pesto chicken is the answer to your searches.
It takes less than 45 minutes to make and simmers in a flavorful, creamy broth. Kids love meals that are covered in cheesy or creamy sauces because they can dip crackers or bread into it. Honestly, I agree with them!
Save some pesto because you can use it to spread on a slice of keto bread. It’s delicious on top of pork too.
Pesto Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs are the best type of meat to use in this creamy chicken skillet meal. They are tender, juicy, and absorb the flavors in the best way.
If you run short on time, grab a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Shred the meat and add it to the sauce. It will still taste delicious and flavorful!
Boneless skinless chicken breasts can also work, but they are a tad dryer. If you don’t have chicken thighs, it might be better to use pork loin instead.
Pesto Chicken Skillet
Pesto is a high-protein sauce made from crushed garlic, pine nuts, salt, basil leaves, and parmesan cheese.
If you have a food processor, it’s really easy to make homemade pesto. I prefer to buy jarred pesto because it’s so much more convenient.
Most types of pesto are easily low-carb, but you should still read the ingredients label just to be safe. Never buy any kind of sauce that has sugar as an ingredient.
Creamy Pesto Chicken
Both heavy whipping cream and parmesan cheese give this pesto chicken the creaminess that everyone loves. If you are lactose-intolerant, you can use canned coconut milk instead of heavy whipping cream and leave out the parmesan cheese.
Use white or yellow onions for this dish. Both of them have a mild taste that complements the pesto chicken.
What To Eat With Pesto Chicken
Since this is such a flavorful chicken recipe with a rich and creamy sauce, I suggest adding some type of gluten-free and keto-friendly roll or bread with it.
Keto bacon and cheese biscuits are perfect to use to dip into the creamy sauce.
Start out the meal with a light salad. This Mediterranean tuna salad is a tasty way to start the meal. Or serve an even lighter salad. Cucumber and cauliflower salad is a fiber-packed nutritious salad that everyone enjoys.
Creamy Low-Carb Pesto Chicken Thighs Recipe
Here’s the list of ingredients to make this keto pesto chicken thighs recipe. Exact measurements and instructions are located in the printable recipe card, just a little bit further below.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
Servings: 4
Net Carbs: 3 net carbs per serving
Ingredients:
Boneless skinless chicken thighs
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Butter unsalted
Onion
Chicken broth
Heavy whipping cream
Parmesan cheese grated
Petite diced tomatoes
Pesto sauce
Chopped fresh basil
Instructions:
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat on the stove.
Season the chicken thighs on both sides with salt and pepper to taste.
Saute the chicken thighs until crispy and browned on both sides, and cooked mostly through. Remove the chicken and set aside.
Drain the oil from the skillet.
Reduce the heat to medium, and melt the butter in the same skillet that you cooked through chicken in.
Add the onions to the skillet, and saute until softened.
Pour the chicken broth and heavy whipping cream into the skillet, and simmer until thickened.
Mix in the parmesan cheese, pesto sauce and tomatoes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Return the chicken to the skillet, and toss to coat in the sauce.
Simmer until the chicken is fully cooked through.
Serve garnished with fresh chopped basil.
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Creamy Low-Carb Pesto Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- Skillet
Ingredients
- 6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp Butter unsalted
- 1/2 Onion chopped
- 1/2 cup Chicken Broth
- 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 cup Petite Diced Tomatoes drained well
- 1/4 cup Pesto Sauce
- Chopped fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat on the stove.
- Season the chicken thighs on both sides with salt and pepper to taste.
- Saute the chicken thighs until crispy and browned on both sides, and cooked mostly through. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Drain the oil from the skillet.
- Reduce the heat to medium, and melt the butter in the same skillet that you cooked through chicken in.
- Add the onions to the skillet, and saute until softened.
- Pour the chicken broth and heavy whipping cream into the skillet, and simmer until thickened.
- Mix in the parmesan cheese, pesto sauce and tomatoes.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Return the chicken to the skillet, and toss to coat in the sauce.
- Simmer until the chicken is fully cooked through.
- Serve garnished with fresh chopped basil.
Notes
Net Carbs: 3 Net carbs Per Serving
The nutritional information for this recipe is calculated as a courtesy and is an approximate only. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipes on this site.
Chicken Recipes
If you enjoyed this keto pesto chicken thighs recipe, here are some more chicken recipes you should make next! All of them are kid-friendly and delicious!
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