Zesty marinated lemon chicken is grilled to perfection and served over freshly spiralized zucchini tossed in an easy homemade pesto sauce. This Grilled Lemon Chicken Pesto Zoodles makes the perfect quick and easy healthy dinner.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Grilled Pesto Chicken Recipe

• Zesty marinated lemon chicken
• Grilled to perfection
• Served over freshly spiralized zucchini noodles
• Tossed in an easy homemade pesto sauce
• Quick and easy dinner

Pesto sauce is a great and very low carb way to add an Italian flair to your meal. You can even freeze some to have on hand anytime you want.  

The smell of fresh basil blooming every year always inspires new Keto Italian recipes. In this dish, tender and juicy grilled chicken and zucchini are combined with fresh pesto to create an amazingly flavorful meal your whole family will love.

You’re going to absolutely love this Keto pesto because you will be using all the freshest of ingredients along with a quality olive oil and parmesan cheese. That’s the true key to making the best pesto recipes, FRESH ingredients.

Another essential ingredient in any pesto sauce is pignoli (pine nuts). You’ll slightly roast them to release this wonderful nutty flavor.

🛒 Ingredients For Lemon Chicken Pesto

• Chicken Breasts
• Pesto Sauce
• Zucchini
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Dried basil
• Lemon
• Salt
• Pepper

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

🥣 Recommended Tools

• Mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Spiralizer
• Food processor
• Outdoor grill or grill pan
• Meat thermometer

🔪 How to Make Grilled Pesto Lemon Chicken

To Prepare the Chicken

Add the olive oil, garlic, fresh basil, salt, pepper, lemon juice and lemon zest to a mixing bowl and whisk to combine.

Pour the marinade over the chicken in a food storage bag. Seal up the bag and massage the marinade into the chicken, making sure all pieces are well coated.

Chill in the fridge for at least 20 minutes.

While the chicken is marinating, prepare the pesto sauce according to the directions.

How to Make the Zoodles

Wash the zucchini, cut the tip ends off each once, place in lengthwise on the spiralizer and crank. It’s truly that fast and easy.

If you don’t have a spiralizer, you can get a more shaved texture by using a veggie peeler. Either way, fresh is always better than frozen; however, if you’re in a pinch, you can use frozen, just squeeze the water out of them really well before serving.

Add the zoodles to a bowl and heat in the microwave for about 45-60 seconds.

Then top with the pesto and toss to coat.

Grill the chicken on your preheated grill or grill pan for several minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F, when checked with a meat thermometer.

Slice the chicken and serve over the zucchini noodles with some pesto sauce drizzled over the top.

☑️ Storage Instructions

Store leftover zucchini noodles and chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

💡 Tips

• Use the best olive oil for the pesto that you can find. Since you’re not cooking the pesto sauce, it needs to be a good quality.
• For the pesto sauce, it’s best to try to grate it yourself, rather than using the pre-grated store-bought type. This will give you the freshest flavor possible.
• Definitely toast the pine nuts beforehand. This will also give the pesto great nutty flavor.
• Don’t heat the zucchini noodles too much, otherwise they will get soft and draw out their liquid, which will water down your pesto.
• Don’t be tempted to marinate the chicken too long. Since the marinade is primarily lemon juice, if it sits too long, it can start to actually cook the chicken (think ceviche).
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure you are not overcooking or undercooking the chicken.

🔄 Other Ways To Use Pesto

• Use a drizzle of Keto pesto as a garnish in your favorite soup. It would add an extra flavorful touch to this Italian Wedding Soup.
• Sauce up any meat with Pesto. Lemon chicken is not the only grilled meat pesto is great with. Grilled fish, steak or pork all work well with pesto. You can even top these Italian Meatballs with a serving it.
• Add pesto to any of your favorite low carb veggies. Top this Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice for a whole new flavor profile.
• Low carb pesto can even be enjoyed with breakfast. Add it to the top of your scrambled eggs or omelet!
• To add extra healthy fat to your diet, add a spoonful to your favorite salad dressing. This Creamy Italian Salad Dressing would be perfect with pesto!
• If you’re wanting a really special low carb appetizer platter, you can serve this Keto pesto a long side this Roasted Red Pepper Cauliflower Hummus and these Homemade Gluten Free Tortilla Chips. You can even serve it with your next Antipasti Platter!

Can You Freeze Pesto?

You’re going to love this Keto pesto so much that you’ll want to keep some on hand. Freezing it is a way to ensure you have some when you need it.

The best way to freeze it is to place a large spoonful of sauce into an ice tray and freeze it until solid. Place the cubes into a freezer bag or an air tight container for up to several months.

Can I Make Pesto Without Pine Nuts?

Pine nuts are used in traditional pesto sauces but can be hard to find sometimes. Walnuts are an excellent substitution in this case. If you choose walnuts, toasting them the same way you do the pine nuts is recommended.

What are the Carbs in Pesto?

This Keto pesto recipe is extremely low carb. There’s no added sugars, so the only carbs in the sauce comes from the basil and pine nuts. There’s only one net carb per serving in this sauce. How’s that for low carb!?!

🍽️ More Keto Chicken Dinners

• Lemon Chicken
• Tuscan Chicken
• Chicken Francese
• Creamy Dijon Chicken
• French Onion Chicken

*Originally published on June 12, 2018, updated on July 17, 2026 with improvements to the recipe, new photos, new recipe information and helpful tips.