Skillet Pesto Chicken Thighs with Veggies
Skillet Pesto Chicken Thighs with Veggies brings tender, crispy-edged chicken together with roasted green beans, tomatoes, potatoes, and sweet peppers for a balanced bite in every forkful. A tangy lemon-basil pesto and lightly browned halloumi add richness and freshness that set this one-pan meal apart. Serve for a cozy weeknight dinner or a relaxed weekend gathering when you want big flavor with minimal fuss.
- Prep45 mins
- Cook45 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Skillet Pesto Chicken Thighs with Veggies, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 53 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 2 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 58 / 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.
- 12
- Heart Health
- 67
- Metabolic
- 27
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 33
- Performance
- 34
- General Wellness
- 1
In a zip-top bag, combine red onion, oil, soy sauce, basil, vinegar, garlic, and peppercorns to make the marinade and mix well. Add the chicken and massage thoroughly. Refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours, flipping once halfway through.
- 2
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Take the chicken out of the refrigerator and discard the marinade.
- 3
Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken skin-side down and sear until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook 1 minute more. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- 4
Drain the excess fat and oil from the skillet, then melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Once melted, add red onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in green beans, potatoes, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, salt, and pepper. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring throughout. Return the chicken to the skillet.
- 5
Move the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes.
- 6
Remove the skillet from the oven. Layer basil leaves on the chicken thighs, then add halloumi cheese slices, ensuring the cheese does not touch the sides of the pan. Return to the oven and cook until the chicken is no longer pink in the centers, 15 to 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should reach at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
- 7
Turn on the broiler and broil until the cheese is golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes, checking often to prevent burning.
- 8
Meanwhile, make the pesto sauce: In a blender, combine olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and hot sauce and blend for 30 seconds. Add basil and blend until it reaches a pesto-like consistency, about 30 seconds.
- 9
Drizzle the pesto sauce primarily over the chicken, and also over the veggies.
- Calories 670.36 kcal High 34%
- Protein 30.18 g Good Source 60%
- Carbohydrate 39.41 g 14%
- Total Fat 42.78 g High 55%
- Saturated Fat 12.89 g High 64%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 140.17 mg High 47%
- Sodium 816.83 mg High 36%
- Dietary Fiber 3.38 g Moderate 12%
- Total Sugars 3.05 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 268.64 mg Good Source 21%
- Iron 2.72 mg Moderate 15%
- Potassium 250.85 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin A 100.72 mcg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin C 26.77 mg Good Source 30%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Tree Nuts 🌰
- Milk 🥛
- Soy 🌱
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
- Alcohol 🚫🍷
About This Recipe
Skillet Pesto Chicken Thighs with Veggies is made with 20 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 1 hr 30 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Baby Red Potatoes, Black Pepper, Black Peppercorns, and Boneless Chicken Thigh. Each serving provides about 670.36 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Skillet Pesto Chicken Thighs with Veggies made of?
- The main ingredients are Baby Red Potatoes, Black Pepper, Black Peppercorns, Boneless Chicken Thigh, Cherry Tomato. The full list of 20 is above.
- How long does it take to make Skillet Pesto Chicken Thighs with Veggies?
- About 1 hr 30 mins in total: 45 mins to prepare and 45 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 670.36 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Skillet Pesto Chicken Thighs with Veggies easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 20 ingredients and 9 steps.
- Is Skillet Pesto Chicken Thighs with Veggies healthy?
- Skillet Pesto Chicken Thighs with Veggies has an easyChef Pro health score of 38/100. Per serving, it provides 670.36 calories and 30.18 g of protein, or 60% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 816.83 mg (36% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 12.89 g (64% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Tree Nuts, Milk, Soy, 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