Over the years I have grilled a lot of chicken. I like to say that after hundreds of recipes you test as a recipe developer you start to find the ins & outs. Those ins & outs then become your signatures as you create recipes. Keeping things similar among recipes I feel like help you guys as readers follow along as well! So what in & out am I talking about with this recipe? Greek Yogurt being the key to perfect textured grilled or baked chicken. Yes, you heard me! Greek Yogurt is the star of making this Healthy Grilled Pesto Yogurt Chicken an absolute favorite dinner.
What is So Magical About Yogurt + Chicken?
Thanks to the calcium content, yogurt is a great ingredient to use when marinating chicken. The calcium content helps break down the enzymes in the meat, which in turn adds flavor & moisture while tenderizing. That is why my friends at Midwest Dairy & I are bringing you the ultimate flavored chicken using yogurt.
Other delicious health benefits of making your next dinner with yogurt:
- Yogurt contains live and active cultures– probiotics, which help maintain a healthy digestive system
- Does anyone in the family have lactose intolerance? Greek Yogurt actually is great for those family members because the cultures/bacteria help break down the lactose, making it easier to digest.
- HIGH protein. Greek Yogurt + Chicken + Mozzarella cheese in this recipe!, brings this recipe to over 50 grams of protein per serving!
How Do I Prepare the Healthy Grilled Pesto Yogurt Chicken Marinade
You can use your favorite pesto for this recipe, however I love making my own. I will use it on everything from this recipe to breakfast sandwiches. You will add ½ cup of pesto to ½ cup Greek Yogurt, mix together & your marinade is set!
HGHF Pesto:
+2 cups packed fresh basil
+1 cup light olive oil
+⅓ cup lemon juice
+2 cloves garlic
+4 tbsp cashews soaked in water (for at least 30 minutes)
+ ½ to 1 tsp salt
+granulated sugar or monk fruit sweetener 1/2 tsp
+honey 1/2 tsp
Directions:
- Drain the soaked cashews, then add them and all the ingredients to immersion safe blender container and immersion blend until smooth
- Store in airtight container in fridge, will thicken overnight
Then you will add ½ cup of this pesto to the Greek Yogurt & boom! One of the most delicious and healthy chicken marinades for the summer.
Healthy Grilled Pesto Yogurt Chicken Caprese Salad Topping
This Healthy Grilled Pesto Yogurt Chicken just screams fresh, from fresh summer basil to the fresh tomatoes, onion & garlic you will be using to create the most satisfying topping to our chicken. While the chicken is marinating you will create this simple caprese salad topping to pour over the melted mozzarella cheese. Typing this just makes me want to make it again tomorrow!
Caprese Salad Topping:
½ cup chopped basil
⅓ cup finely chopped red onion
⅓ cup chopped cherry tomatoes
2 cloves garlic minced
1 large lemon juiced (¼ cup lemon juice)
¼ tsp salt
- Add all ingredients into a resealable container, toss & let marinade while chicken finishes marinating & you grill it
What Other HGHF X Midwest Dairy Recipes Should I Make?
EASY CROCK POT MEXICAN STREET CORN DIP
SIMPLE AND DELICIOUS BLT PASTA SALAD
INSTANT POT SIMPLE CREAMY TOMATO HERB PASTA
GLUTEN FREE BROCCOLI CHICKEN CHEESE CASSEROLE
What Other Simple Dinners Can I Make with the Healthy Grilled Pesto Yogurt Chicken
I love this recipe for its easy ingredients and also all the easy recipes you can make utilizing this chicken.
- Add chicken to a pasta, with more of the Greek Yogurt pesto as the sauce & the caprese topping
- Spread some of the Greek Yogurt pesto on a tortilla, slice up your chicken and top with the caprese topping
- Eat without a bun, but feel free to add your favorite bun to make a Healthy Grilled Pesto Yogurt Chicken Sandwich
All simple and healthy dishes to make with this recipe for the week. Or utilize your dinner leftovers to make any of the above for easy lunches!
What Healthy Ingredients do I Need for the Healthy Grilled Pesto Yogurt Chicken?
Time to hit the farmers market or your favorite grocery store to get these delicious summer ingredients.
Healthy Grilled Pesto Yogurt Chicken:
- 3 butterflied chicken breasts
- ½ cup HGHF pesto or your favorite
- ½ cup Greek Yogurt
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup chopped basil
- ⅓ cup finely chopped red onion
- ⅓ cup chopped cherry tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 large lemon juiced (¼ cup lemon juice)
- ¼ tsp salt
- salt & pepper to sprinkle on raw chicken breasts before coating with marinade
Common Questions When Making Healthy Grilled Pesto Yogurt Chicken
How long does the Healthy Grilled Pesto Yogurt Chicken last in the fridge?
Store in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days in the fridge
Do I have to use HGHF pesto or can I use jar pesto?
Feel free to use whatever pesto you love, but if you haven’t made the HGHF one, I highly recommend giving it a try!
Can I use another shredded cheese besides mozzarella?
You can use whatever shredded cheese you’d like, however with the flavors in this recipe mozzarella cheese is the best with our pesto/caprese flavors. The next best would be shredded Gouda.
Is the Healthy Grilled Pesto Yogurt Chicken gluten free?
Yes. If you follow the recipe below & utilize the HGHF pesto recipe, it is naturally gluten free
Are you able to make this using whole chicken breasts, not butterflied?
Yes, you are more than welcome to, it will change the grilling times and is noted in the recipe.
Healthy Grilled Pesto Yogurt Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 butterflied chicken breasts
- ½ cup HGHF pesto or your favorite
- ½ cup Greek Yogurt
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup chopped basil
- ⅓ cup finely chopped red onion
- ⅓ cup chopped cherry tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 large lemon juiced ¼ cup lemon juice
- ¼ tsp salt
- ** salt & pepper to sprinkle on raw chicken breasts before coating with marinade
Instructions
- You will start by making the caprese salad topping first. Add 1/2 cup chopped basil, 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion, 1/3 cup chopped cherry tomatoes, 2 cloves minced garlic & 1/4 tsp salt into a resealable container. Squeeze the lemon juice over it. Mix well & then let it sit to marinade in fridge while chicken is cooking
- Next place your 3 butterflied chicken breasts in a baking dish, sprinkle generously with salt & pepper on each side
- Then in a bowl mix together HGHF pesto & greek yogurt. Then Take out 2/3 of it into a separate bowl so you can baste your chicken with that Greek Yogurt pesto mixture. You don't want to continue to put the baster that was touching the raw chicken back into some that you might want to use for wraps. So keeping 1/3 out for pasta or wraps is nice to do.
- Take the 2/3 of the mixture and with a basting brush, baste both sides of the chicken breasts. Let marinade for 30 minutes.
- Spray your grill with olive oil BEFORE turning it on, to prevent chicken from sticking. Then turn to medium heat.
- Once grill is preheated, add your butterflied chicken breasts to the grill. Since they are butterflied they will be thinner than regular chicken breasts. So grill about 4 minutes PER side until internal temperature reacts 165F.
- The LAST 2 minutes, add your sprinkled mozzarella on each butterflied chicken breast & close lid.
- Once internal temp is at 165, you will take your chicken off the grill, let it rest for 5 minutes before cutting in & top with your caprese salad mixture! Enjoy!
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