Now that’s Italian! Tender organic chicken legs fried in a golden mix of butter, olive oil and fresh garlic, topped with homemade basil pesto then finished with a sprinkling of sliced grape tomatoes…
Oh yeah – that’s my kinda party. Tiny tomato confetti as far as the eye can see…
I had the idea to make this Italian-style chicken upon receiving a gorgeous box of goodies from my friends at D’Artagnan Foods. In it were all sorts of specialty ingredients and included in the mix was their Organic (Air-Chilled) Chicken Legs.
This chicken is proof positive that a happy chicken is a tasty one. D’Artagnan’s chickens are raised free-range which means they get plenty of exercise…like living with a personal trainer…and we all know what that means – not only is their lifestyle good for their muscles but good for their moods, too. These chickens contain no animal by-products, no growth stimulants, no antibiotics and are air-chilled which means there is no excess water to dilute flavor. What you see is what you get. Chicken. High quality chicken.
It is moist and tender and delivers big in the flavor department.
I’ve come to learn over the years that wooing my hubby is done pretty easily. I know you might think it has to do with my quick wit and sense of humor (wink) – however – I’m pretty certain it has more to do with chopped garlic and fresh basil. When their combined aroma greet him, I am guaranteed wedded bliss. As long as garlic and basil remain in the marriage, we are good to go.
I oughtta bottle this stuff or at the very least create pesto-scented incense. Do you think that exists?
So, what’s more powerful than the combination of these two piquant aromas whirring around together? Only a final blast of freshly shredded Parmigiano.
Oh yes.
I had the idea to make pesto minus the nuts. With a combination of fresh basil, chopped garlic, olive oil and cheese, this sauce comes together pretty quickly when using a food processor.
Did we miss the pine nuts?
Not even a little.
It tasted as fresh as the first sprouts of a springtime garden – which was precisely the taste and mood I was going for.
Like most chicken dishes, this is probably best made right before serving, however, pesto can be made at any point and stored with a little swirl of olive oil on top until dinner. And since I prepared this chicken earlier in the day, we simply threw it under the broiler for about 3 minutes to reheat and crisp up just before serving.
It was perfection!
Buon Appetito!
Print
Italian Chicken with Basil Pesto & Grape Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 3 cups firmly packed fresh basil leaves
- 2 plump cloves of garlic, chopped
- 1/2 cup olive oil, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano
- Salt, to taste
- 6 D’Artagnan chicken legs
- Kosher salt and cracked black pepper, to taste
- 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 head of garlic, cloves separated, peeled and crushed
- Grape tomatoes, sliced in half, lengthwise
Instructions
- Combine basil and garlic in a food processor with 1/4 cup olive oil.
- Pulse until you have a slightly chunky sauce, but not smooth.
- Add the remaining oil while processing.
- Stop once or twice to scrape down the sides.
- Stir in the cheese and season with salt.
- Place in a bowl and swirl a drizzle of oil on top until ready to use.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper
- Combine butter and oil in heavy-bottomed sauté pan and heat over medium until butter is melted.
- Add the chicken and brown on both sides.
- Add garlic and stir until just browned, taking care not to burn.
- Cover pan and cook over low heat for about 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (165 F).
- Place chicken on a serving platter, top with pesto, garlic and cherry tomatoes.
- Serve.
We can never have too many chicken recipes…
Spring Minestrone with Chicken Meatballs
Chicken Saltimbocca with Melty Fontina
CIAO!
you’re killing me here. I NEED this. NOW.
Hahahah! Why thank you! 🙂
To quote my husband, “I could eat pesto on a shoe and be happy.” Love this dish and the different cut of chicken. We do way too many chicken breasts in our house. Time to branch out. Thanks!!
It’s so easy to get in that rut! Believe me – we still eat a lot of chicken breast! Thanks, my friend! 🙂
I might actually wear perfume if you came up with a pesto fragrance, my husband is allergic to perfumes, but he loves the smell of garlic and basil! I love simple dinners like this that are so gorgeous and packed with flavor (perfect for entertaining with ease)!
This is a great dish for entertaining, I agree! Perfume…incense..perfection! 🙂
If there is a pesto scented incense I will be the first in line to buy that…and maybe doughnut scented incense. ? You always know how to get me craving a dish immediately. Pesto and chicken is so homey and comforting.
Ooooh – donut scented? Yes! I think we’re on to something! Thanks for your kind words, my friend! Pesto has that effect on us, doesn’t it?! Happy Easter, Amanda!!
This looks so beautiful. I absolutely love pesto! It has such a fresh taste! We raise our own chickens for eggs and also for meat! The way they are raised makes a huge difference in the taste! And I agree….a happy chicken makes a tasty chicken! 🙂
Wow – I love that! You are eatin’ good, everyday!! Thanks, my friend! 🙂
I can put pesto over just anything and everything!! the pesto looks divine Annie!!
I’m with you, girlfriend! I never get enough! 🙂
This chicken looks outstanding! Love the homemade pesto! Great flavors! Pinning! Have a great Easter!
We can never have too many chicken recipes! Thanks, dear! Happy Easter!!
Chicken looks scrumptious, Annie. Basil pesto + grape tomatoes sound like an awesome pairing. Have a lovely weekend my friend!
So good and I can’t resist the colors! Thanks, friend!
Girlfriend, this chicken looks perfect! And I love me some pine nut-free pesto! Let me know if you make some pesto incense because I will totally ride that train!
Why thanks, girlfriend! That’s it – i’m working on it! 🙂
That pesto is beyond incredible, Annie! Leaving outthe pine nuts is so brilliant, not to mention cheaper. This is going on my dinner menu because now I’m definitely craving chicken!
Thanks, Mir!! I absolutely love this pesto! Enjoy!
I would marry you too Anne if you made me pesto like this all the time. hahahahaha! SEriously, your Hubby is a very smart man and knows a good thing when he sees it. Speaking of a good thing, your Italian chicken leg quarters are gorgeous! My Hubby loves leg quarters (and pesto) so will be trying your recipe soon 🙂
Hahahahah! Hey! A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do! 😉 This is a yummy dish that brings all my favorite flavors together! I know you’d love it! Thanks, friend! 🙂
This is foodie perfection! I absolutely love chicken legs and thighs and if possible organic is the way to go! That pesto with the cheese would just melt like heaven on top of this fabulous chicken! Take care.
It did melt like heaven! The flavors going on here are some of my favorites… Thanks for stopping by, Stacey! Have a lovely weekend!
I often make pesto without nuts, Annie – it always comes out great. I also switch basil with parsley or do half and half. I just got my first pot of basil this year so you’ve inspired me to use some up this weekend! Happy Easter to you and yours!
This was the first time I’ve made it without nuts…so good! It’s funny you mention using parsley – I was thinking about making a batch with parsley, as well! I love the fresh taste – especially in tabouli – so I can imagine it would make a delicious pesto. Thanks for stopping by, my friend! Happy Easter!!
I literally put pesto on everything! This pesto + those chicken thighs = the perfect dinner.
It’s so good! I wish you could have smelled the aroma of the house while it was all happening! Too good! Thanks, friend!
Sign me up for pesto-scented incense! Annie, I just love the super fresh colors in this dish! And speaking of color – the chicken (pre-cooked) is certainly a lovely shade of natural pink (not yellow). Then of course there’s that lovely sear you got that makes it look so perfectly crisp on the outside and tender inside!
Thank you for mentioning the pre-cooked chicken…I almost didn’t post it, but I thought, it’s definitely a color we should look for in our chicken, so I went for it. Thanks so much, sweets! Have a lovely weekend!
That basil pesto looks beyond delicious!
Thanks, Medha! I’m slathering it on everything!
Give me pretty much anything with pesto on it and I’m a happy girl, especially when it looks as delicious as this chicken!! D’Artagnans products are all so high quality and delicious!
I love everything I’ve ever tried from D’Artagnan Foods! Such high quality! Thanks, my friend! Have a lovely Easter!
This recipe looks delicious, Annie! Put pesto on a shoe and I’d probably love, lol. But on this chicken? And with the grape tomatoes? Yes, please!! Such an elegant looking dinner! Loving this recipe! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
Hahahah! I am with you! I feel the very same way about just a few things…pesto and homemade whipped cream – gahhh! Thee best! Thanks for your kind words, my friend! Have a lovely weekend! 🙂
Hahaha! D’Artagnan’s chickens have a better life than me!! I mean shoot, I don’t have a personal trainer! 😉 This dish looks seriously tasty, Annie!! Loving the basil pesto and confetti of tomatoes! Plus those chickens look perfectly golden brown and delicious! This is a meal fit for a queen, mi-dear! Pinned! Cheers, lovely – to a wonderful Easter! xo
Hahaha – I know…maybe we should go hang with these chickens for a little while! Why thank you, my dear! These are some yummy flavors! And thanks for the pin! Have a lovely Easter! xo
A happy chicken definitely looks like a tasty one…love that saying! And I would definitely buy your pesto-scented incense. I just love that fragrance, too! This dish looks incredible, Annie! I love that you used chicken legs and added basil (my all-time favorite) and tomatoes. I can only imagine how delicious this must taste! This would definitely woo my husband too!
Ope – I already have a buyer? That’s it – I’m working on that pesto-scented incense!! Shark Tank here I come! I knew you might love this dish since you’re such a fan of Caprese flavors! Thanks, my friend! Have a lovely Easter weekend!