Creamy Pesto Chicken Bake – Baked Chicken in Pesto Cream with Melted Cheese

Creamy Pesto Chicken Bake is a rich oven-baked dish where tender chicken is covered in a thick pesto cream sauce and finished with a bubbling layer of melted cheese.

As it bakes, the sauce thickens and settles around the chicken, creating a glossy, scoopable base, while the cheese melts into a golden, stretchy topping.

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Ingredients (Serves 2)

For the chicken
2 chicken breasts  
1 teaspoon salt  
1/2 teaspoon black pepper  

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For the sauce
2 tablespoons pesto  
1/2 cup heavy cream  
1/2 cup cream cheese  
2 cloves garlic, minced  

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For topping
1 cup mozzarella cheese  

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Step-by-step cooking

Step 1 – Prep chicken  
Season and place chicken in a baking dish.

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Step 2 – Make sauce  
Mix pesto, cream, cream cheese, and garlic until smooth.

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Step 3 – Assemble  
Pour sauce over chicken evenly.

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Step 4 – Add cheese  
Top generously with mozzarella.

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Step 5 – Bake  
Bake at 180°C until bubbling and golden.

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Step 6 – Finish  
Let rest slightly to thicken sauce.

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Step 7 – Serve  
Serve hot with sauce scooped over the chicken.

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Pro Tips
Use full-fat cream cheese for better texture.  
Do not overbake to keep chicken juicy.  
Let it rest so sauce thickens properly.

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Why This Performs
Bubbling cheese surface (visual hook)  
Thick baked sauce pool  
Green pesto swirl contrast  
Easy one-dish comfort meal