Pesto-Walnut Crusted Chicken Breasts

I love simple, flexible recipes that are big on taste. Any kind of pesto, from traditional basil to some of the more original ones on the market, works beautifully with this dish as does any kind of nut. Baking the nuts with the chicken brings out their toasty goodness. When I want to dress up the presentation and add another layer of flavor, I top each chicken breast with diced tomato and shredded Parmesan or diced fresh mozzarella.

Pesto-Walnut Crusted Chicken Breasts
Boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
salt and pepper
2 T. prepared pesto per chicken breast
2-3 T, chopped walnuts per chicken breast

Preheat oven to 450 F. Place chicken in a roasting pan and season lightly with salt and pepper. Spread a layer of pesto on top of each chicken breast. Press walnuts into pesto. Bake chicken until juices run clear, about 20 minutes.