Grilled Pesto Chicken

Grilled Pesto Chicken is the perfect combination of a delicious simple ingredient marinade and smoky flavors. The chicken absorbs the flavors of the Pesto Marinade which helps to create a juicy and tender chicken that taste amazing.

This Grilled Chicken Recipe is delicious served on top of a green salad, pasta or next to your favorite veggies such as Grilled Peppers and Onions, Grilled Shishito Peppers and Cherry Tomatoes. If you love our Grilled Chicken Alfredo or Grilled Chicken Parmesan then you need to make this family favorite Pesto Chicken Recipe.

Can You Grill Chicken With Pesto?

Yes, you can grill chicken with a Pesto Marinade. We have even used it as a topping when the chicken is finished cooking.

However you use this Pesto Marinade the chicken comes out perfectly and is delicious variation to your other grilled chicken recipes.

Ingredients

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – We recommend making sure the chicken is the same size and thickness so it cooks evenly.
• Pesto – This recipe can easily be made with store bought or homemade basil pesto.  
• Lemon – Fresh lemon juice adds the best flavor to the marinade
• Minced Garlic – Feel free to substitute with garlic powder
• Avocado Oil – This is for the grill grates. Another option is Olive Oil.

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Variations Ideas

• Chicken – If you prefer, you can make this recipe with boneless chicken thighs.
• Fresh Herbs – Feel free to mix things up and add in your favorite herbs such as fresh basil, thyme or rosemary. This is a great addition to the pesto sauce.
• Add Cheese – For a delicious variation sprinkle the top of the grilled chicken with parmesan cheese, mozzarella or feta cheese.

How to Make Pesto Chicken on the Grill

Step 1 – In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the pesto, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt and pepper until well combined. 

Step 2 – Add the chicken to the bowl and toss to fully coat the chicken in the marinade ingredients.  

Step 3 – Cover and refrigerate. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight for the best flavor. 

Step 4 – Preheat the grill to 350 degrees F or medium-high heat. Gently brush the grates of the grill with oil to prevent the chicken from sticking.

Step 5 – Place the chicken on the grill. Cook for 5-7 minutes per size until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F according to a meat thermometer.

Step 6 – Remove the chicken from the grill, let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Expert Tips

• Grilling Chicken – Make sure not to flip the chicken too early. When you turn the chicken, you will be able to feel it pulling away from the grill and that is when the chicken is ready to flip. 
• Excessive Marinade – We recommend shaking excess marinade off the chicken for best results when grilling chicken.
• Preheat Grill – To prevent the chicken from sticking, make sure to preheat the grill so it is very hot. This allows the chicken to have a nice sear and the best grill marks.
• Rest Chicken – After removing the chicken from the grill, allow the chicken to rest for about 5 minutes.

How Long Can I Marinate Chicken in Pesto

We recommend marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes. But we think that it becomes more flavorful if you marinate for longer. We have even marinated overnight for delicious results.

But do not marinate for longer than 24 hours as it could cause your chicken to be mushy.

What to Serve with Grilled Pesto Chicken?

We love making our favorite Grilled Side Recipes when making grilled pesto chicken. It makes it easy to cook everything on the grill which makes cleanup a breeze. Try these family favorite sides the next time you make this Easy Grilled Chicken Recipes

• Grilled Red Potatoes
• Grilled Green Beans
• Grilled Broccolini
• White Rice or over Pasta
• Grilled Zucchini
• Grilled Mushrooms Recipe
• More Grilled Chicken Sides