Zesty Pesto Chicken Cauliflower Rice Recipe for Cozy Dinners

Weeknight dinners get a delightful Mediterranean twist with this pesto chicken cauliflower rice creation that brings vibrant flavors to your plate.

Fresh herbs mingle with tender chicken pieces, creating a light yet satisfying meal.

Cauliflower rice provides a low-carb alternative that doesn’t compromise on taste or texture.

The bright green pesto sauce adds a zesty punch to every single bite.

Incredibly simple ingredients come together in less than thirty minutes, making this dish perfect for busy evenings.

Quick cooking techniques ensure you spend more time enjoying the meal and less time preparing it.

You’ll love how easily this recipe delivers restaurant-quality taste right in your own kitchen.

Grab a fork and get ready to savor every delicious spoonful of this wholesome dinner.

Why Pesto Chicken Cauliflower Rice Recipe Is A Low-Carb Winner

• Quicken Weeknight Dinner: This recipe transforms ordinary chicken into a flavor-packed meal in just minutes, making it perfect for busy households seeking delicious, fast solutions.
• Boost Nutritional Value: Replacing traditional rice with cauliflower rice delivers a low-carb, high-protein option that supports healthy eating without sacrificing taste or satisfaction.
• Master Simple Cooking Techniques: The step-by-step method teaches easy skillet skills, helping home cooks build confidence through straightforward seasoning and cooking processes that guarantee tasty results.
• Customize Your Meal: Flexible ingredients like pesto allow personal creativity, enabling cooks to swap sauces or add extra vegetables to match individual preferences and dietary needs.

What You’ll Need For Pesto Chicken Cauliflower Rice Recipe

• Chicken Breast: Lean protein that provides a tender and juicy base for the dish, best when fresh and cut into even pieces.

• Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika, Salt, Pepper: Classic spice mix that adds depth and warmth to the chicken, creating a flavorful foundation.

• Cauliflower Rice: Light, low-carb alternative to traditional rice, provides a nutritious and texture-rich background for the pesto chicken.

• Pesto: Creamy sauce with basil and herbs that coats the chicken, delivering a rich Italian-inspired flavor profile.

• Olive Oil: Helps brown the chicken and prevent sticking, adds a subtle Mediterranean taste to the dish.

How To Cook Pesto Chicken Cauliflower Rice Recipe Quickly

Step 1: Spice Up the Chicken

Grab a spacious mixing bowl. Sprinkle the chicken with a delightful blend of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Massage the spices into the chicken, ensuring each piece is beautifully seasoned.

Step 2: Sizzle and Brown

Fire up a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drizzle in some olive oil, allowing it to shimmer and dance across the pan’s surface. Carefully place the seasoned chicken pieces into the hot skillet.

Step 3: Cook to Golden Perfection

Let the chicken sizzle and transform. Stir the pieces occasionally, watching as they turn a gorgeous golden brown. Cook until the chicken is completely done – you’ll know it’s ready when the internal temperature hits 75°C/165°F. This should take about 5-7 minutes.

Step 4: Dress with Pesto Magic

Lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Swirl in the pesto, coating each chicken piece in its herby, creamy goodness. Toss the chicken until every morsel is gloriously covered in green deliciousness. Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Plate your pesto-coated chicken over a bed of cauliflower rice. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired. Dive into this vibrant, flavor-packed meal that’s both healthy and incredibly satisfying!

Tips That Work For Pesto Chicken Cauliflower Rice Recipe

• Spice Up Your Seasoning: Experiment with different herbs and spices like oregano, thyme, or Italian seasoning to personalize the chicken's flavor profile and add depth to the dish.
• Perfect Chicken Doneness: Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches the safe internal temperature of 75°C/165°F, preventing undercooking while maintaining juicy, tender meat.
• Boost Pesto Coating: Warm the pesto slightly before mixing with chicken to help it spread more evenly and enhance the sauce's aromatic qualities and overall taste.
• Cauliflower Rice Hack: Pat cauliflower rice dry with paper towels before cooking to remove excess moisture, ensuring a crispy texture and preventing soggy results.
• Low-Carb Friendly Option: Swap traditional pesto for a homemade version using fresh basil, pine nuts, and olive oil to control ingredients and reduce unnecessary carbohydrates.

How To Store Pesto Chicken Cauliflower Rice Recipe Easily

• Refrigerate leftover pesto chicken in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking.
• Keep the dish fresh for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator, ensuring the best flavor and texture.
• Cool the chicken completely before storing to prevent moisture buildup.
• Reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat or microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly.
• Avoid freezing this dish, as the pesto and cauliflower rice may lose their original consistency and become watery when thawed.
• For optimal taste, consume the stored chicken within the recommended refrigeration timeframe.

What To Serve With Pesto Chicken Cauliflower Rice Recipe

• Elevate with Crisp White Wine: Pair this pesto chicken with a chilled sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio. These light, zesty wines complement the herbal pesto notes and cut through the richness of the chicken perfectly.
• Serve with Fresh Mediterranean Salad: Create a simple side of cucumber, tomato, and feta salad dressed with olive oil and lemon. The bright, tangy flavors will enhance the pesto's green freshness and balance the dish's savory profile.
• Match with Roasted Vegetable Medley: Prepare a colorful mix of roasted bell peppers, zucchini, and asparagus. The caramelized vegetable edges will add depth and texture, creating a harmonious accompaniment to the pesto chicken and cauliflower rice.
• Finish with Lemon Herb Garnish: Sprinkle fresh chopped basil and squeeze lemon juice over the dish. These vibrant final touches will lift the flavors, adding brightness and a final aromatic punch to the entire meal.

Pesto Chicken Cauliflower Rice Recipe Variations You’ll Enjoy

• Spicy Mediterranean Fusion: Swap pesto with harissa paste and add cumin for a North African-inspired kick, creating a bold and zesty chicken dish.
• Herb Garden Blend: Replace traditional pesto with a homemade herb sauce using fresh basil, parsley, and mint, offering a lighter and more vibrant flavor profile.
• Creamy Sundried Tomato Version: Mix pesto with sundried tomato paste and a splash of cream cheese for a rich, tangy coating that adds depth to the chicken.
• Low-Carb Green Goddess: Incorporate spinach and Greek yogurt into the pesto, reducing calories while boosting nutritional value and creating a creamy green sauce.

FAQs About Pesto Chicken Cauliflower Rice Recipe

• What makes pesto such a great sauce for chicken?

Pesto adds incredible flavor with its blend of fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, and parmesan cheese, creating a vibrant and aromatic coating that transforms simple chicken into a gourmet meal.

• Can I use store-bought or homemade pesto for this recipe?

Both work perfectly! Homemade pesto offers fresher taste, while store-bought provides convenience and consistent flavor. Just choose a high-quality pesto for the best results.

• Is cauliflower rice a good low-carb alternative to regular rice?

Absolutely! Cauliflower rice is a nutritious, low-carb option that’s packed with vitamins, has fewer calories, and provides a great texture similar to traditional rice, making it perfect for health-conscious eaters.

• How do I know when the chicken is fully cooked?

Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 75°C/165°F. The chicken should look golden brown and have no pink color in the center, ensuring it’s safe and juicy to eat.

Pesto Chicken Cauliflower Rice Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Culinary magic happens when Pesto Chicken Cauliflower Rice blends Mediterranean flavors with healthy ingredients. Zesty basil pesto coats tender chicken over light cauliflower rice, creating a low-carb meal that delights you with each flavorful bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs), cut into bite-sized pieces

Seasonings and Spices:

• ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) onion powder
• ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) paprika
• ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) Italian seasoning
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste

Cooking and Garnish Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil or butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ⅓ cup (80 ml) basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
• 4 cups (960 ml) cauliflower rice (store-bought or grated fresh cauliflower)
• ¼ cup (60 ml) grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• Fresh basil leaves
• Extra Parmesan cheese
• Pine nuts (toasted)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Infuse chicken pieces with a blend of aromatic spices including garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing vessel.
2. Warm a generous splash of olive oil in a expansive skillet, establishing a sizzling medium-high temperature landscape.
3. Introduce seasoned chicken to the heated surface, allowing each morsel to develop a rich, golden-brown exterior through careful periodic rotation.
4. Monitor cooking progression, ensuring chicken reaches a perfectly safe internal temperature of 75C/165F, which typically requires approximately 5-7 minutes of culinary attention.
5. Transition the skillet to a lower thermal setting, gently incorporating vibrant pesto throughout the chicken, creating a luxurious, herb-infused coating that envelops each tender piece.
6. Once thoroughly glazed, remove the skillet from heat, allowing the pesto-drenched chicken to rest momentarily before serving alongside cauliflower rice.

Notes

• Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts for quick and even cooking, ensuring tender and juicy results.
• Opt for homemade or high-quality store-bought pesto to enhance the overall flavor profile of the dish.
• Use fresh cauliflower rice or quickly pulse cauliflower florets in a food processor for a more budget-friendly alternative to pre-packaged options.
• Customize the dish by adding extra vegetables like spinach, cherry tomatoes, or roasted bell peppers for additional nutrition and texture.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 450 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 10 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg