Can I use pesto sauce as a marinade for chicken?

Answer 1

sure why not??



100 g firmly packed fresh basil
4 cloves garlic
50 g freshly grated parmesan cheese
50 g toasted pine nuts
80 ml lemon juice
250 ml olive oil
4 chicken breast fillets

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Place the basil, garlic, Parmesan, toasted pine nuts and lemon juice in a food processor and process until combined.
Gradually add the olive oil, with the processor still running, and process until smooth.
Reserve 3/4 cup of the pesto.
Coat the chicken fillets with the remaining pesto and marinate for at least 1 hour, or overnight if time permits.
Place the chicken on a tray and cook under a medium grill (broil) for 5 minutes on each side, or until cooked, brushing with any remaining marinade during the cooking.
Serve with roasted vegetables, (such as eggplant, capsicum, red onion) amd the reserved pesto.

Answer 2

I would'nt use it as a marinade, because of the olive oil,, generally vinager & oil are a good marinade, but mixing vineager w/ pest sauce will make the basil taste funny.
Use another marinade and pan fry with white wine and lemon juice and pesto sauce.

Answer 3

while you would not normally cook pesto sauce (its added to cooked pasta or vegetables or meat just before serving) there is no reason why you couldn't use it as a marinade, or as part of a marinade. maybe add a little acid to the pesto, like lemon juice or balsamic vinegar, as this will make it more like a marinade and a little less oily.

Answer 4

While it sounds like a good idea, I wouldn't. When you go to grill or cook the chicken, the basil and garlic will burn and the Parmesan will turn all funky. Just put the pesto on afterwards.

Answer 5

Yep - it can be a very strong flavor!
My favorite use for pesto is to mix it with Italian dressing and use it with pasta salad - usually colored rotini and yellow/red pepper, broccoli, red onion and black olives, topped just before serving with grated parmesan.

As the only dressing - yes, if the pesto isn't mixing well with your pasta, you need to add more olive oil. 2-3 tbsp. should be enough for 1 serving of pasta. Use lots of parmesan. :)

Answer 6

Yes! I often do this... Even better is grilling the chicken and then topping it with some pesto. VERY fresh tasting!

Answer 7

upload a spoonful of it to red sauce, or to alfredo sauce. you are able to upload it with more effective olive oil for a strict pesto pasta. it really is sturdy on meatball subs, dotted on pizza and mixed into salad dressing. I even spread a skinny layer on the interior a grilled cheese before it really is grilled.

Answer 8

Yes I guess. The chicken won't object and it'll add a nice flavor

Answer 9

No but you could use it to fill the chicken with bacon, cheese, arthicokes or asparagus and brown in the pan.

Answer 10

Of course you can. The worst thing that could happen is that you don't love it. There's not way it would be terrible. Chicken's cheap! Try it!