These Keto Pesto Stuffed Chicken Thighs are super easy to make and loaded with flavor – they also keep well for lunches all week long! A delicious low carb chicken recipe that the entire family will love!
One of my favorite things about chicken is that it’s like a blank canvas. Neutral in flavor, you can do almost anything to it and it will taste amazing.
Since Summer is almost over and I’m super sad about it, I’m obsessed with squeezing every last bit of fresh produce out of the season before it’s time to “pumpkin flavor all of the things!”
My garden is currently loaded with basil and tomatoes, so making these Keto Pesto Stuffed Chicken Thighs with a Caprese salad on the side seemed appropriate. You can use store-bought pesto with great results, but if you are overrun with basil like I am, why not make your own? Here’s one of my favorite basil pesto recipes – and it’s got a hint of lemon added, which gives it a nice lift.
If you aren’t a fan of basil, you could also try this recipe with my cilantro, walnut, and jalapeno pesto for a more Mexican flair.
This recipe is incredibly easy (I know you love that as much as I do) but loaded with flavor – perfect for a weeknight dinner now that the kids are getting ready to go back to school! Even if cooking isn’t usually your thing, I’m pretty sure you can handle this recipe.
Still worried? Here, I’ll even lay out the steps for you in photos.
Step 1 – Place your chicken thighs in an ovenproof dish and jam some pesto under the skin. Then rub the extra pesto all over the top of the skin. It should take 2 minutes and look like this.
Step 2 – Bake chicken for 40 minutes at 400 degrees (F). Remove and serve.
The end.
See? You got this.
Now I realize that not everyone loves chicken on the bone – and if that’s the case, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs – just reduce the cooking time by about 10 minutes.
These Keto Pesto Stuffed Chicken Thighs also taste great cold – for an easy low carb lunch during the week you can make a double batch, and then take the extra meat off the bone and chop it up. Then just stir in some mayo and a little extra pesto if you have it. Viola! Pesto chicken salad – eat it plain or wrap it in some romaine leaves for extra crunch!
Keto Pesto-stuffed Chicken Thighs
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
A simple, but delicious Keto Pest Stuffed Chicken Thigh recipe that will make the most of your summer produce! Â Low carb and gluten free too!
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 4 chicken thighs
- 3 Tbsp pesto
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
For the Caprese salad:
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella, sliced or chopped
- 1 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- kosher salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
For the chicken:
- Trim the thighs of any extra skin and place in an ovenproof dish.
- Stuff about 1 tsp of pesto under the skin of each chicken thigh, then rub the rest of the pesto over the tops of the chicken.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Drizzle with olive oil.
- Bake in a preheated 400 degree (F) oven for about 40 minutes.
- Remove and serve with Caprese salad.
For the Caprese salad:
- Combine all of the salad ingredients in a small bowl. Stir gently until fully combined.
Notes
Approximate nutrition information per serving:
1 Chicken thigh: 401 calories, 27g fat, 1g net carbs, 37g protein
1/2 cup Caprese salad: 100 calories, 9g fat, 1.5g net carbs, 4g protein
- Category: Keto Dinner Recipes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 401
- Fat: 27g
- Carbohydrates: 1g net
- Protein: 37g
Note: Chicken must be cooked to an internal temperature of 170 degrees for boneless products and 180 degrees for bone in chicken products. 
Calvin says
Pesto is a great idea to marinate chicken with
Susan says
Made this for my MIL so she doesn’t have to cook for several nights.
This freezes amazing!
Undercook the chichen by about 10 min, chill in the refrigerator overnight, the next day take your portion(s) place in freezer bags remove as much air as you can and freeze.
When your ready to cook defrost in the fridge for a day and reheat in the oven at about 350 for about 30 min.
pam coakley says
I loved the chicken thighs served with Caprese salad and cauliflower puree…yummy!
Gina says
Melissa, just got done eating 1 of these thighs along with the salad! They are so good and EASY but a little messy altho my hands are soft from the olive oil treatment, Lol! I used the boneless, skinless thighs…I was missing your crispy skin tho. I also stuck a little shredded mozzarella cheese inside each one. This is a keeper! I am going to add to my freezer meal list, too.
I also cooked the other half of the thighs using a spicey, honey glazed chic thighs recipe. It is also on my regular meal list. Now I have 2 recipes to make with the 14 piece package!
Thanks!
Betty C says
Tweet – #SweepstakesEntry
Betty C says
Sorry, pasted the wrong information. Here is my tweet link – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/526471640540925952
Betty C says
I like to use my George Foreman grill to cook a batch of boneless chicken and then the leftovers are perfect for my favorite fried rice recipe.
Tabathia B says
I like baked chicken parmesan
tbarrettno1 at gmail.com
Debbie B says
i posted a tweet: https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/526422738529824768
Debbie B says
my favorite chicken dish is chicken and dumplings
Annette says
Here’s my tweet https://twitter.com/ThatTuxedoCat/status/526415486255263744
Annette says
My favorite chicken dish is Chicken and Sausage Gumbo.
Ellie Wright says
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/526212868622925826
Ellie Wright says
Green Chile Chicken Stew is my very favorite. I can’t wait for cold weather to make a big pot of it.
Madeline says
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/526170283430776832
Madeline says
My favorite chicken dish is a marinated, grilled chicken that my husband does on our hibachi grill.
Sonya Morris says
Link to tweet:
https://twitter.com/catholicfanatic/status/525825715812319234
Thank you!
Sonya Morris says
WOW! This looks amazing! I love barbeque chicken off the grill and that happens to be the extent of my cooking talent!
Erica Best says
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/525706298202267648
Erica Best says
i love roast chicken
Kerry says
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/523986734724300800
Kerry says
I have a chicken and dumpling recipe for the slow cooker that is my family’s favorite!
Janice Cooper says
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/521441559426785281
Janice Cooper says
My favorite chicken dish is barbecue chicken
Susan Smith says
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/518213546883051520
Susan Smith says
My favorite chicken dish is Blackened Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo.
Angel Jacklyn says
2ND ENTRY TWEET https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/517843424125259776
Deb Anderson says
My all-time favorite is chicken parmigiana. Never get tired of it!
Erika says
We love barbecue chicken sandwiches.
Anne says
I shared your beautiful recipe and this fun promotion on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/NotherAnneOther/status/513080675528749057
Thanks!
Anne says
In our house, roast chicken is an all-time favorite. I have one of those pans with a raised well in the center, which I fill with chicken stock and herbs, then sit the chicken right over the well (sort of like beer-can chicken). It always comes out moist and delicious.
Ashley H says
I like chicken parm.
One Frugal Girl says
I love a chicken fajita recipe I gathered from the food network years ago!
One Frugal Girl says
https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/512710871705853956
Karen says
Well, just nabbed some boneless thighs and about to try this beaut for this upcoming week lunch menu. Thanks so much for sharing. :)
scarlett says
We (fiance and I) are about to go shopping for this week’s meal and I think this is a winner! Yep, he just agreed to it! :)
Also my favorite chicken dish is just straight fried chicken. The skin is the most heavenly thing on earth!
Katherine says
https://twitter.com/mkjmc/status/509767710834577408
Katherine says
I love Chicken Cordon BLeu
D Schmidt says
Tweeted for a second entry
https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/509514836049281024
D Schmidt says
Our favorite quick and easy meal is definitely sweet and sour chicken stir fry, its delicious!
rachel says
I always like chicken club sandwiches.
Drea says
Definitely chicken lazone. It’s really easy, quick, and only uses one pan.
Rae says
I made a double batch of these on Sunday, and they were spectacular. My 6 year-old devoured three for his dinner. (He also ate his veggies.) This is a new chicken recipe for easy dinners.
amy pugmire says
I love chicken alfredo.
courtney b says
tweet
https://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/507211355078656000
courtney b says
my favorite chicken recipe is chicken marsala or chicken fettuchini. Being italian i would say any italian chicken dish!!!
Vincent says
tweeted
https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/506697128194756608
Vincent says
We like to put marinated chicken on the grill on skewers with onion, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes and pineapple.
Natalie Yarbrough says
I tweeted with twitter id @yarbr012 : https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/505520292048158720.
Natalie Yarbrough says
I love to make my cheesy chicken and wild rice scrambled eggs with corn. I love chicken!
jennifer says
I LOVE chicken thighs!!!!
Seriously, eat them every single week. Nearly everyday..
My favorite is to use Kerrygold, coconut aminos, and garlic.. sometimes add in some honey. SO DELICIOUS!!
I am really excited to try this recipe! Thanks for the pesto recipe, too!
Mellissa Sevigny says
That sounds intriguing Jennifer – might have to try your combination too! Thanks!
Nicole says
Tweet here–https://twitter.com/lil_lady_dz/status/505283181654720513
Nicole says
I love to make a chicken stir fry served with brown rice. One of my favorite way to enjoy chicken.
Mary says
Chicken and Spinach Parmesan
Hélène says
Oooooo, like Chicken Piccata where you pound the breasts thin? Now, chicken and spinach parmesan sounds so carb-friendly (meaning vlc) lasagna-like! Just my speed.
MBernhard says
While I like pesto I love anything with lemon. My favorite is Crockpot Lemon Chicken.
Hélène says
I bake thighs with lemon (or lime!) slices laid on top (skin first, fork them and salt & pepper too). You can eat the roasted lemons with the chicken too.
Or I zest lemon over the forked thighs and then squeeze lots of juice on them. Then I salt & pepper them.
Yes, I know the glorious skin is lost, but it’s a good compromise lol
I really like thighs. Great for leftovers too. I even actually make chicken salad sometimes instead of just them eating cold :)
I have heard of saving chicken skins and frying up a big batch in lard then salting. Im thinking that would be astounding!
Molly H says
Ah, I love me some pesto! I haven’t tried cooking any thighs yet, so I’ll add this to my recipe list!
My favorite chicken dish is usually just wings. I don’t know why, they just seem so indulgent. And spicy. And yummy =).
Mellissa Sevigny says
So true Molly – you can never EVER go wrong with chicken wings!!!
April says
This is my type of recipe, short and easy! I have just discovered your site and am so impressed with your amazing photography and recipes. It makes me believe I can follow the highcarb low fat. Thank you for all of your work!!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Welcome April and thanks so much! I hope you like this chicken recipe – it’s one of our new favorites for sure!
helene says
eating it cold is the exciting part of the recipe to me! love snacks!
Mellissa Sevigny says
I just mixed some of the pesto chicken salad up today for Mr. Hungry and served it with hot cherry peppers! Delicious and so easy!
Hélène says
shoot, I just meant the pull out of fridge, insert in mouth kinda snack LOL
my favorite type for this homeschooling, single mom of 2 :)
Mellissa Sevigny says
HA HA! Oh I have eaten many a spoonful of whatever leftovers I have while standing over the fridge my friend! Sometimes I don’t even know why I have a dining room table or actual plates…
heather says
My favorite chicken recipe is using shake and bake the garlic parm one.
Mellissa Sevigny says
I haven’t had Shake and Bake in YEARS Heather! My mom used to make pork chops with it and I loved it every time! I’ll have to see if I can recreate a gluten free version someday! :)
Amy says
LOL@ “jam pesto under the skin” – my kind of recipe! Making pesto today so very timely!
Mellissa Sevigny says
You’ve got to try this one Amy – the flavors of the pesto really come through and complement the chicken so perfectly!!!