halloumi pesto chicken is colorful, easy and FULL of flavor!

You guys are going to LOVE this halloumi pesto chicken!

what is halloumi?

If you’re a longtime reader then you know I’m kind of obsessed with halloumi – flavor wise it’s a cross between feta and mozzarella, though it truly has a unique flavor that you have to try for yourself.

halloumi has a secret super power!

Aside from being super tasty, what sets halloumi apart from other cheeses you have cooked with is that it has a very high melting point – which means that it holds its shape whether you fry it, grill it or bake it! In addition, when halloumi hits that high heat it becomes just a little bit creamy and so so flavorful – I just love it!

what’s in halloumi pesto chicken?

Aside from being absolutely delicious, the ingredient list for this dish couldn’t be shorter:

boneless chicken breasts
pesto
halloumi cheese
salt and pepper
cherry or grape tomatoes
red wine vinegar

how do you make it?

This dish is SUPER easy, can be prepped in advance, and scaled up to serve a crowd. Start by butterflying your chicken breasts. The video below illustrates this process; all you have to do is use a sharp knife to slice through the chicken horizontally (being careful not to slice all the way through) and then open it up like a book.

You then spread some of the pesto on one half and top with some of the halloumi. Fold the other half over and place in a large ovenproof pan.

Bake, add the tomatoes and red wine vinegar, bake some more and serve!

frequently asked questions!

You can accompany this dish with whatever you like – the tomatoes get a bit “jammy” and sweet in the oven, making a perfect side to a simple rice pilaf, roasted potatoes or a salad!

This is one of our family’s favorite recipes – it’s a fast, supremely easy, colorful and delicious meal that I guarantee everyone will love! Let me know if you give it a try!

Halloumi Pesto Chicken

sherisilver

An easy, fast, delicious dinner, with minimal prep and tons of flavor!

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Servings 4

Calories 212 kcal

Equipment

• ovenproof baking dish

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• Salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup pesto sauce
• 1 package halloumi cheese, sliced into 8 slices
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Instructions

 

• Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Slice each chicken breast horizontally almost all the way through, and open up like a book. Use your hand to flatten, and season with salt and pepper.
• Spread 1 tablespoon of the pesto sauce on one side of the breasts. Place 2 of the halloumi slices on top of the pesto, and fold the “plain” side over to cover. Transfer the chicken to an ovenproof baking dish and bake for 15 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and vinegar to the dish and bake for another 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Notes

1. Here is my recipe for homemade pesto!
2. You can find the recipe for the rice pilaf shown in the pictures in this post.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 212kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 26gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 74mgSodium: 293mgPotassium: 679mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 925IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 1mg

Keywords basil, chicken, halloumi, pesto, tomatoes

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