Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Cherry Tomatoes, Chickpeas, and Pesto
If you’re looking for an easy way to get a budget-friendly dinner on the table, try these chicken thighs with cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, and pesto. You know I love a good sheet-pan recipe, it makes prep and cleanup a breeze, so it’s perfect for a weeknight dinner. The star of this meal is the cherry tomatoes, they offer delicious little bursts of flavor! If you’re not a tomato person, you could swap them for some chopped red bell pepper.
Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Cherry Tomatoes, Chickpeas, and Pesto Ingredient Notes:
Boneless Chicken Thighs: Juicy and flavorful, boneless chicken thighs are perfect for sheet pan meals because they stay tender during roasting and absorb the spice blend well. Their higher fat content compared to chicken breast makes them richly satisfying. In this recipe, they roast up golden and pair beautifully with the fresh pesto topping.
Cherry Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes burst with sweetness as they roast, creating a jammy texture and deep, concentrated flavor. They also release juices that mingle with the spices and chickpeas, enhancing the overall taste of the dish. Their bright red color adds visual appeal to the sheet pan presentation.
Chickpeas: Chickpeas offer a hearty plant-based protein and fiber boost while soaking up the spices and roasting alongside the tomatoes. As they cook, they get crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, adding contrast to the tender chicken. They also help make the dish more filling and balanced.
Pesto: Drizzled on after baking, pesto brings a burst of herby freshness and a creamy finish to the roasted ingredients. Its bold flavor complements the spices and adds a pop of color to the golden-brown sheet pan. Use your favorite store-bought or homemade pesto for a simple yet flavorful touch.
Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Cherry Tomatoes, Chickpeas, and Pesto
4
servings15
minutes40
minutesIf you’re looking for an easy way to get a budget-friendly dinner on the table, try these chicken thighs with cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, and pesto. You know I love a good sheet-pan recipe, it makes prep and cleanup a breeze, so it’s perfect for a weeknight dinner. The star of this meal is the cherry tomatoes, they offer delicious little bursts of flavor! If you’re not a tomato person, you could swap them for some chopped red bell pepper.
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Ingredients
1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
15 ounces chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 cup pesto of choice
Directions
- Heat the oven to 400F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Mix together the garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil, paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Add the chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, half the olive oil (1 tablespoon) and half the spice mix to a large bowl. Mix to evenly coat. Transfer to the sheet pan.
- Add the chicken thighs, half the olive oil (1 tablespoon) and the remaining spice mix to separate large bowl. Mix until fully coated. Transfer to the sheet pan with the chickpeas in one even layer.
- Bake until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F and the chickpeas and tomatoes are beginning to brown, 30 to 40 minutes.
- Drizzle with spoonfuls of pesto. Serve immediately or store the chicken separate from the chickpeas and tomatoes in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Notes
- Storage: Refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: From refrigerator, microwave until warm, about 2 minutes or heat in a saucepan over medium heat until warm, about 10 minutes. From frozen, thaw in the fridge for at least 8 hours or overnight, then heat as instructed.
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Wow this recipe seems simple but has so much flavor! Don’t skip the pesto, it really made the dish. I used bone in skin on chicken thighs which added 15 mins to the cooking time, but the crispy skin with the pesto was delicious. Already making it again next week!
I made this a couple of nights ago, and it was so delicious. I love that it was low-carb, and so flavorful. I feel like the chickpeas filled the gap for rice of pasta. Will be adding to my rotation.
So yummy! My husband and I had it over some leftover gf pasta. Shared the recipe with my in laws too! This meal will def be in our dinner rotation.
Adding this to the rotation, it is wild how good this is for how easy it is!! My whole family (including two kids), love it!
This meal was absolutely amazing and so easy! We meal prepped it and had it for dinners all week. I looked forward to dinner every night!
This was delicious and so easy! I made zoodles on the side. This is definitely going in thr rotation. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
So easy and delicious! My husband doesn’t like thighs so I used boneless skinless breasts and it’s delicious. I shared with friends too. We put it over quinoa. This will be a regular dinner for us!
Made this tonight with breasts instead of thighs. Was a hit with the whole family. Served it with quinoa and salad. Happy I doubled it – lunch for everyone tomorrow!
My sister and I really enjoyed this delicious recipe! That pesto is not to be missed!
First time trying one of your recipes! It was a hit with the entire family and so easy. Nothing is ever a hit with my son. Thanks!
Scrolling through your recipes now for something else to try this week.
So good! We added Zucchini and it was delicious!
Made this tonight and LOVED it! So simple and seasoned beautifully. I put the chicken thighs, chickpeas, and tomatoes over a bed of lettuce to make it go a little further. I cook for just myself, so I saved the rest for meal prep!
My family loved this dinner. We love anything with pesto and this did not disappoint. I meal prepped these on Sunday and then simply warmed up in the oven during the week. I am loving her partial meal prep series.
Decided at the last minute to try this….and had all the ingredients on hand! So easy and very flavorful. Thanks for this recipe
My TOP Jenn recipe right now! SO EASY AND DELICIOUS!
This recipe was so easy and delicious, but so healthy! The seasonings and pesto made the flavor so good! Thank you for sharing recipes that are quick and easy to make.
This dish came out way better than expected! I felt like it needed a grain so I made some white rice to go on the side. Husband and I were so impressed with the flavors, ease of cooking and straightforward instructions. Definitely adding this to our regular meal rotation! Thanks, Jenn!
I’ve made this recipe multiple times and I actually swap the chickpeas for gnocchi! They cook perfectly in the oven with all the juices from the chicken and tomato and they are so yummy 😋
This is my go to recipe to make when I am trying to avoid going to the grocery store. Ingredients I have on hand and so flavorful!
Second time making this! So easy and flavorful. My son suggested adding chopped sweet potatoes this time and that was a great addition! Don’t skip the pesto!
This is my go to recipe for meal trains! Include rice or GF pasta to feed more.
We have made this recipe multiple times and it has quickly become a favorite in our home! Don’t skip the pesto, it adds so much flavor. Highly recommend eating it over a bed of arugula.
I have been making this recipe on repeat recently! I have a baby who likes to be held and watch me cook and I just love that I can do this entire recipe one-handed. I usually make rice as well because I do feel it needs something to make it a little more filling, especially for dinner. Homemade pesto definitely puts it over the top!
my partner and I absolutely love this recipe! you make such simple and delicious dishes.
To kick it up a notch I add some minced garlic as well. I also tried adding a bit of spinach for the last 5 minutes of cooking, and another time adding a pepper! So versatile and delicious.
Didn’t know what to make tonight. This was the night saver. Delicious and quick.
Ridiculously easy to put together and delicious. Immediately became a regular in the rotation.
Wow, another stellar dish! This was so simple and quick.
Delicious! Easy to prep and easy to clean up as well. Served with roasted sweet potatoes to bulk the meal up a little bit. Love quick and healthy meals!
As my husband told me, it’s “surprisingly tasty.” Even though it’s just a few ingredients, the whole meal feels complete and it’s very filling. I love that’s it no carb and you still feel satisfied. It’s one of my go-tos when I don’t feel like cooking!