Gorgonzola Chicken with Basil Pesto
Tender chicken breasts simmer in a creamy Gorgonzola and mushroom sauce with a lift of white wine and lemon, then get finished with vibrant basil pesto and fresh tomatoes. Gorgonzola Chicken with Basil Pesto balances rich, tangy cheese with herby freshness and a hint of sweetness, perfect for a cozy dinner or a special weeknight meal.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook35 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Gorgonzola Chicken with Basil Pesto, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 51 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 10 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 92 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 21
- Heart Health
- 72
- Metabolic
- 36
- Digestive
- 32
- Inflammatory
- 60
- Performance
- 47
- General Wellness
- 1
Make the pesto: In a food processor, combine basil leaves, 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, walnuts, Parmesan cheese, and garlic; blend until smooth.
- 2
Prepare the chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Move the chicken to a serving platter.
- 3
In the same skillet, cook and stir mushrooms in a single layer until tender, about 5 minutes. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 1/2 of the Gorgonzola cheese and cook until slightly melted. Pour in wine and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Stir lemon juice, chicken broth, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper into the sauce.
- 4
Bring the chicken broth mixture to a boil; reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce reduces by a quarter, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the pesto and return the chicken to the skillet. Cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 5 minutes more. Add the remaining Gorgonzola cheese and the chopped tomatoes.
- 5
Serve each chicken breast on a plate topped with the sauce.
- Calories 692.76 kcal High 35%
- Protein 65.46 g Good Source 131%
- Carbohydrate 45.37 g 17%
- Total Fat 24.21 g High 31%
- Saturated Fat 7.24 g High 36%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 164.72 mg High 55%
- Sodium 946.51 mg High 41%
- Dietary Fiber 4.9 g Moderate 18%
- Total Sugars 7.31 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 257.17 mg Moderate 20%
- Iron 2.98 mg Moderate 17%
- Potassium 486.92 mg Moderate 10%
- Vitamin A 170.47 mcg Moderate 19%
- Vitamin C 23.43 mg Good Source 26%
- Vitamin D 0.14 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tree Nuts 🌰
- Milk 🥛
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
- Alcohol 🚫🍷
About This Recipe
Gorgonzola Chicken with Basil Pesto is made with 16 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 55 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Brown Sugar, Chicken Breast, Chicken Broth, and Chopped Walnuts. Each serving provides about 692.76 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Gorgonzola Chicken with Basil Pesto made of?
- The main ingredients are Brown Sugar, Chicken Breast, Chicken Broth, Chopped Walnuts, Diced Tomatoes. The full list of 16 is above.
- How long does it take to make Gorgonzola Chicken with Basil Pesto?
- About 55 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 692.76 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Gorgonzola Chicken with Basil Pesto easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 16 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Gorgonzola Chicken with Basil Pesto healthy?
- Gorgonzola Chicken with Basil Pesto has an easyChef Pro health score of 49/100. Per serving, it provides 692.76 calories and 65.46 g of protein, or 131% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 946.51 mg (41% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 7.24 g (36% of the Daily Value). It contains Tree Nuts, Milk, Tomatoes, Garlic, Onions and Alcohol, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.
For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.
Score a recipe free, no app required