High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Pesto-Walnut Sheet-Pan Chicken with Broccoli & Carrots
Sheet-pan dinners are a weeknight lifesaver, and this one delivers serious flavor with zero fuss. The real star is the homemade walnut pesto — fresh basil, raw walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, and good olive oil blended into a thick, fragrant paste that coats each chicken breast before it hits the oven. Because every component is made from scratch with whole, recognizable ingredients, you never have to second-guess what's in your sauce the way you might with a jarred store-bought version. High fructose corn syrup has a way of sneaking into condiments and pre-made sauces, but this pesto is built entirely from pantry staples you can trust. The broccoli and carrots roast alongside the chicken, picking up caramelized edges and soaking in the herby drippings from the pesto as everything cooks together. A squeeze of lemon and a scatter of torn basil at the end brightens the whole plate and makes it feel genuinely restaurant-worthy. It's the kind of clean, satisfying meal that proves eating well doesn't have to mean sacrificing any of the good stuff.
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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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