These Baked Pesto Chicken Bites are one of those recipes that makes you feel a little fancy… while still feeding everyone like it’s a regular Tuesday. They’re basically gourmet chicken nuggets that both grownups and kids can get behind.
The basil pesto adds a fresh, herby flavor (and a cute little green tint), while the breading bakes up light and crunchy. Serve them with marinara, ranch, or whatever sauce your family is currently obsessed with, and you’ve got yourself a guaranteed “can we have these again?” situation.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Kid approved without tasting like “kid food”
- Baked, not fried (less mess, still crispy)
- Great for dinner or appetizers
- Easy to prep ahead and bake when you need them
How to make pesto chicken bites
- Cut the chicken.
Rinse, pat dry, and cut your chicken into bite-size cubes (about 1 inch).
- Coat with pesto.
Toss the chicken in a bowl with basil pesto until everything is evenly coated. (Homemade pesto is amazing here, but store-bought works too.)
- Set up your dipping station.
- Bowl #1: chicken
- Bowl #2: eggs + buttermilk (add a pinch of salt and pepper if you want)
- Bowl #3: bread crumbs + Parmesan + garlic powder + salt + pepper
- Bread the chicken.
Dip each piece into the egg mixture, then roll in the bread crumb mixture. Place on a greased or lined baking sheet.
- Bake.
Spray the tops lightly with oil spray, then bake until cooked through and crispy.
- Serve.
Dip away. Marinara and ranch are both a home run.
Serving ideas
- Marinara (pizza vibes, always a win)
- Ranch (classic nugget energy)
- Caesar dressing (surprisingly good)
- Honey mustard (sweet + tangy)
Basil Pesto Chicken Bites Recipe Card:
Basil Pesto Chicken Bites
A grownup chicken nugget with fresh basil and savory Parmesan flavors with a beautiful vibrant green hue.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken breast boneless, skinless, cubed 1″x1″
- 1/3 cup basil pesto
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs crackers, panko, crushed
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- pan oil spray
- dipping sauce marinara, ranch, etc
Method
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cookie sheet with liner or spray with pan oil spray.
- Place chicken in a large bowl. Add basil pesto and mix until coated.
- In small bowl beat eggs and buttermilk together. Set aside.
- In another small bowl mix bread crumbs, cheese, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. Blend and set aside.
- Form assembly line by taking a piece of chicken carefully dipping it into the egg mixture then rolling in the bread crumb mixture. Place on prepared cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces.
- Lightly spray chicken with oil spray.
- Bake for 11-13 minutes until chicken reaches 165 degrees internally.
- Serve hot with your choice of dipping sauce.
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
Originally Published 11/09/2016 Updated (text and photo): 01/07/2025
These chicken bites look really good! I love anything with pesto. I’m going to try making these. Thanks for the recipe!
These look sooo delicious! I’ll definitely be trying out this recipe over the weekend.
Thank you Megan!
Those look delicious! I am always looking for new ways to make chicken fun, and this one looks awesome! Definitely going on my list for next week!
Thanks Heather! I hope you like it.
Delicious! I love pesto because it’s so easy to make at home, and these little chicken bites look like a great app or dinner!
These look awesome! I can’t wait to try. I sneak things into my kids chicken nuggets all the time. I wonder if they will let me get away with pesto. 😉
These look so yummy! i have never had much less cooked anything like this1 Thanks for sharing i can’t wait to try!
These would make a great Super Bowl appetizer. I would make them for my boys as a meal though too. They love chicken.
These sound SO good! I cannot wait to make them!
These look sooo delicious! I’ll definitely be trying out this recipe over the weekend.
WOOOW! That looks so good. I love baked chicken recipes because they’re so much healthier. I would love to give this a try and because the kids love chicken, I’m sure they’re going to adore this one.
This is such and easy and super delicious recipe! This would even be perfect for the upcoming Super bowl party we will be having!
Thanks Silvia! This would make for a great Super Bowl recipe.
Thanks so much for sharing your recipe my husband loves anything chicken I’m looking forward to trying it out
Jessica, you are so welcome. I hope you guys enjoy them!
WOW! These look awesome and so easy to make too! I totally just pinned the recipe for later!
Thanks Erica!
Yum! That looks good and so easy to make! I need to try this at home! I am sure my family will love this.
Belle | One Awesome Momma
I really like pesto, but I haven’t put it on chicken before. This looks like a delicious way to enjoy it!
These look delicious and so easy to make. We grow basil so this will be a great addition to our recipes.
Oh wow! That recipe sure is easy yet the results is so fab! I never thought of doing that with my pesto sauce before! Thanks for sharing! Will give it a try!
this looks amazing! It is definitely something my family would love! I will be adding this to the need to try soon list
Thanks Jessi!
These sound so good. They are perfect to serve at our superbowl party in a few weeks.
If it’s bite size, its for me! These looks so yummy, i know my family would g crazy for them!