Alpha Gal Friendly Pesto-Walnut Sheet-Pan Chicken with Broccoli & Carrots
Alpha-gal syndrome means avoiding mammalian meat and byproducts, and chicken is one of the cleanest proteins to build a meal around. This sheet-pan dinner leans into that with juicy, herb-coated chicken breasts roasted alongside broccoli and sweet carrot coins — all in one pan, all completely free of red meat or mammalian-derived ingredients. The real star is the homemade walnut pesto: fresh basil, raw walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil blitzed into a thick, fragrant paste that clings to each breast and caramelizes beautifully in a hot oven. Because you're making the pesto from scratch, there's no guessing about hidden dairy or mystery additives that can sneak into store-bought versions. The staggered roasting method — carrots first, then broccoli and chicken together — means everything finishes at the same time with perfectly charred edges and nothing soggy. A squeeze of lemon and a handful of torn basil at the end brighten the whole plate and make it feel genuinely restaurant-worthy. It's a weeknight dinner that's as satisfying to eat as it is reassuring to make.
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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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