Almond Free Pesto-Walnut Sheet-Pan Chicken with Broccoli & Carrots
Sheet-pan dinners are a weeknight lifesaver, and this one earns a permanent spot in the rotation. The star is a vibrant walnut pesto made from scratch — fresh basil, raw walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, and good olive oil blitzed together into a thick, fragrant paste that gets pressed right onto each chicken breast before roasting. While the pesto does all the heavy lifting on flavor, the broccoli and carrots roast alongside until tender with those irresistible charred edges. For anyone navigating a tree nut sensitivity specifically around almonds, this recipe leans entirely on walnuts, so there's no need to swap or substitute a thing. Store-bought pestos can be a minefield — many contain pine nuts or almonds, and cross-contact warnings make them even trickier — so blending your own in a food processor puts you fully in control of every ingredient. A squeeze of lemon and a scatter of torn basil at the end brighten the whole plate and make it feel genuinely restaurant-worthy. One pan, minimal cleanup, and a dinner that looks like you tried a lot harder than you did.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the walnut pesto
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- ½ cup raw walnuts
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the sheet pan
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz each)
- 4 cups broccoli florets (about 1 medium head)
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into ½-inch coins
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For serving
- lemon wedges (optional)
- fresh basil leaves, torn (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line an 18×13-inch rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper or foil.
- 2
Make the pesto: combine the basil, walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a food processor. Pulse 6–8 times until coarsely chopped, then stream in the 1/4 cup olive oil with the motor running and process until a thick, slightly chunky paste forms, about 30 seconds.
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