Chicken is easily marinated in pesto and skewered before barbecuing with tomatoes that turn into sweet, smokey bites on the grill.
I made this dinner a few weeks ago and loved the simplicity of it. I changed the original recipe just a tad to make it 100% paleo. Since the chicken is just marinated in this “pesto” why waste delicious expensive cheese. Save that for when you’re going to actually consume the pesto. This pesto is ridiculously easy to whip together. Just let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes or even overnight. It creates so much flavor, especially when you use your own home grown basil (do you need any? I have a ton!!!). The addition of the cherry tomatoes is heavenly. I never knew how delicious barbecued tomatoes are. To sum it up, this meal is really really easy. I prepared the pesto the night before and marinated the chicken overnight. When I got home I made the skewers and prepared a salad. Took no time at all and I’m able to enjoy the whole night out in the backyard. Just how I like it.
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Simple Grilled Pesto Chicken Skewers
- Total Time: 21 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Juicy chicken pieces marinated in a fresh, homemade basil pesto are skewered with sweet cherry tomatoes and grilled for a quick, flavorful, and healthy meal. Perfect for a fast weeknight dinner or a summer cookout.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (237ml) basil
- 1 large clove garlic (peeled)
- 3 tablespoons (44ml) olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.2ml) Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.2ml) black pepper
- 1 pound (454g) chicken breasts (cut into bite sized pieces)
- 1 pint (473ml) cherry tomatoes
- wooden skewers (previously soaked for at least 30 minutes)
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse the basil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stream in the olive oil until a pesto forms. Marinate the chicken pieces in the pesto for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat grill to high heat.
- Skewer the marinated chicken and cherry tomatoes, alternating between the two until you use up all the ingredients.
- Grill the skewers for about 4 minutes on each side. Remove from the grill and serve.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I marinate the chicken in the pesto?
You should marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, but for best results, marinate it overnight.
Can I use store-bought pesto instead of making my own?
Yes, you can use store-bought pesto, but keep in mind that it may contain cheese, which is not paleo.
What type of tomatoes work best for this recipe?
Cherry tomatoes are ideal for this recipe as they become sweet and smoky when grilled.
