Goat Cheese & Pesto Grilled Chicken

Goat Cheese & Pesto Grilled Chicken Recipe

Ingredients (Serves 4)
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
6 oz. plain goat cheese
2 oz. plain cream cheese

Pesto Ingredients
2 cloves garlic roughly chopped
1 cup packed basil leaves
⅓ cup olive oil or more as needed
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Kosher salt as needed
3 tablespoons finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese (or another hard Italian grating cheese like Asiago, Parmigiano-Reggiano or Romano)

Directions for Pesto:

Step 1: Place the garlic and basil in a food processor or blender and pulse until everything is roughly chopped.

Step 2: Add the oil and pepper and process, scraping down the sides, part way through, until everything is well blended. If it is very thick, add more olive oil.

Step 3: Add the cheese and pulse until blended in. Taste and add salt if needed.

Directions Chicken:
Step 1: Mix goat cheese and cream cheese with a spatula until well blended and creamy. Set aside.

Step 2: Cut thick chicken breasts in half, lengthwise.

Step 3: Using a mallet, pound the chicken pieces until they are an even thickness.

Step 4: Over medium heat, grill the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.

Step 5: Spread tops of chicken pieces with cheese mixture, garnish with pesto and serve.

Laurie’s Serving Tip: I served this dish over angel hair Aglio E Olio with sauteed green beans with bacon and shallots. You may find the past recipe in the “Sides” and “Pasta” sections of my blog.