Sometimes, inspiration for designing a recipe can come from unusual places. Such is the case for these Tuscan Chicken Bites! I was at a Wendy’s restaurant grabbing lunch with my husband, and I decided to try a new product, their Tuscan Chicken Sandwich. It was wonderful and it had a flavor that I hadn’t had in a while~pesto! So, while I was enjoying lunch, I came up with the idea of making these Tuscan Chicken Bites!
These bites are easy to put together, and everything can be made the day before serving, including the pesto. There is a lot of flavor going on in these little bites, but they go well together! They don’t cancel one another out, but instead, they compliment each other, resulting in a tasty appetizer, begging to be enjoyed over and over again!
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Tuscan Chicken Bites ( printable recipe at end of post) (makes 4 and more)
Pesto
2 cups loosely packed Basil Leaves
1 ounce Pine Nuts
1 ounce Fresh Parmesan
1 teaspoon minced Garlic
pinch or two Salt
1/8 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 teaspoon Mayonnaise
Other ingredients
Chicken Breast
minced garlic
black pepper
Spring Mix
Roma Tomato~finely chopped and unseeded
Yellow Onion~finely chopped
Small Mozzarella Balls~aka mozzarella pearls
Balsamic Vinaigrette~recipe here
Make the pesto first. Place the basil leaves, pine nuts, and parmesan in the food processor. Pulse a couple times. Add the garlic and pinch or two of salt. Pulse a couple more times, then taste to check to see if you want more salt. Scrape down the sides of the processor. Keep the processor running and start slowly adding the olive oil in a steady stream. Don’t add it all. Stop and scrape the sides again, and taste the pesto. Add more salt if needed. Add more olive oil if needed. Place pesto in a small bowl. Add mayo a teaspoon at a time, until you are happy with the consistency. Cover and refrigerate. Make balsamic vinaigrette and set aside. Follow the link to the recipe.
Pan fry the chicken breast. Sprinkle with black pepper and a 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic, but only on one side. Turn chicken over several times while cooking, until done. Remove from pan and cool.
Set up each plate with four pieces of spring mix. I liked using 2 green and 2 darker leaves for interesting visual appeal.
Add a dollop of pesto to the top of the lettuce.
Add a bite sized piece of chicken to each plate. Place the chicken on top of the pesto. Then add an additional dollop of pesto to the top of the chicken.
Add a couple pieces of the tomato and onion to the top of the pesto.
Top with a mozzarella pearl. Stick a fork to the side. Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette.
Serve and enjoy!
Much thanks to Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures for hosting today’s yummy small bites!
Sunday Supper Small Bites Recipes for Entertaining
Author: The Freshman Cookprint recipe
Pesto
- 2 cups loosely packed Basil Leaves
- 1 ounce Pine Nuts
- 1 ounce Fresh Parmesan
- 1 teaspoon minced Garlic
- pinch or two Salt
- 1/8 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 3 teaspoon Mayonnaise
Other ingredients
- Chicken Breast
- minced garlic
- black pepper
- Spring Mix
- Roma Tomato~finely chopped and unseeded
- Yellow Onion~finely chopped
- Small Mozzarella Balls~aka mozzarella pearls
- Balsamic Vinaigrette~http://www.thefreshmancook.com/2017/04/bruschetta-di-pomodoro-sundaysupper.html
- Make the pesto first. Place the basil leaves, pine nuts, and parmesan in the food processor. Pulse a couple times. Add the garlic and pinch or two of salt. Pulse a couple more times, then taste to check to see if you want more salt. Scrape down the sides of the processor. Keep the processor running and start slowly adding the olive oil in a steady stream. Don’t add it all. Stop and scrape the sides again, and taste the pesto. Add more salt if needed. Add more olive oil if needed. Place pesto in a small bowl. Add mayo a teaspoon at a time, until you are happy with the consistency. Cover and refrigerate. Make balsamic vinaigrette and set aside. Follow the link to the recipe.
- Pan fry the chicken breast. Sprinkle with black pepper and a 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic, but only on one side. Turn chicken over several times while cooking, until done. Remove from pan and cool.
- Set up each plate with four pieces of spring mix. I liked using 2 green and 2 darker leaves for interesting visual appeal.
- Add a dollop of pesto to the top of the lettuce.
- Add a bite sized piece of chicken to each plate. Place the chicken on top of the pesto. Then add an additional dollop of pesto to the top of the chicken.
- Add a couple pieces of the tomato and onion to the top of the pesto.
- Top with a mozzarella pearl. Stick a fork to the side. Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette.