and Roasted Red Potatoes

Yield: 2 Servings

Adapted from: Home Chef

A tender chicken breast, topped with a creamy basil sauce infused with sharp pecorino cheese, served next to roasted red potatoes, shallot, and fresh red bell pepper.

• 12oz red potatoes
• 1red bell pepper
• 1shallot
• 13oz boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2TBS basil pesto
• 4oz light cream
• 1oz pecorino cheese
• olive oil
• salt & pepper
• cooking spray

Preheat oven to 400°F.

If using any fresh produce, thoroughly rinse and pat dry.

Prepare a baking sheet with foil and cooking spray.

Prepare the Ingredients

Cut each potato into six to eight wedges.

Stem, seed, remove ribs, and cut red bell pepper into 1″ dice.

Peel and slice shallot into ¼” rounds.

Pat chicken breasts dry, and season both sides with salt and pepper.

Begin the Vegetables

Toss potatoes, red bell pepper, shallot, 1 tsp olive oil, season with salt and pepper on prepared baking sheet. Spread into a single layer, leaving room to add chicken later (some overlap is ok). Roast in hot oven until vegetables begin to soften and caramelize on edges, 20 minutes. Remove from oven.

Vegetables will finish cooking in a later step.

While vegetables roast, sear chicken.

Sear the Chicken

Place a medium non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tsp olive oil and chicken to hot pan and cook until browned, 2-3 minutes per side. After vegetables have roasted 20 minutes, carefully stir on their own side. Transfer chicken to empty space on baking sheet. Reserve pan: no need to wipe clean.

Finish the Chicken and Vegetables

Top chicken with 2 tsp basil pesto (reserve remaining for sauce). Roast until pesto darkens slightly and chicken reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165°F, 10-12 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate and rest at least 5 minutes. While chicken rests, make sauce.

Make Sauce and Finish the Dish

Return pan used to sear chicken to medium-high heat. Add cream to hot pan and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove from burner. Stir in remaining basil pesto and ⅔ of the pecorino (reserve remaining for garnish). Taste, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper if desired.

Serve:

Divide chicken and vegetables between plates and top chicken with sauce and garnish with remaining pecorino.