Description
Homemade pesto chicken roll-ups combine Italian culinary tradition with simple ingredients for a delightful meal. Fresh basil, tender chicken, and creamy cheese create a perfect balance of flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 chicken breasts (sliced horizontally and pounded into cutlets for even thickness)
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
- 2 cups basil leaves (loosely packed, fresh)
- 3 cloves garlic
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup pine nuts
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (finely chopped)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsps olive oil (for searing)
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat Sanctuary: Ignite the oven to 350°F (175°C), establishing a culinary stage for transforming chicken into a gastronomic masterpiece.
- Chicken Preparation: Butterfly and tenderize cutlets, creating uniform surfaces that will absorb flavors uniformly and cook with precision, seasoning generously with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Flavor Foundation: Lavishly spread pesto across each cutlet, strategically distributing sun-dried tomatoes to introduce bursts of concentrated flavor and textural intrigue.
- Artful Rolling: Meticulously roll chicken into compact cylinders, securing with toothpicks to maintain structural integrity, then sear in olive oil to develop a golden-brown exterior that locks in moisture.
- Sauce and Cheese Elevation: Transfer rolls to a baking dish, blending remaining pesto with heavy cream and additional sun-dried tomatoes, then crown with a decadent layer of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
- Culinary Culmination: Bake until chicken reaches a safe 165°F (74°C), allowing a brief resting period to redistribute juices and harmonize flavors, presenting a succulent and visually stunning dish.
Notes
- Butterfly with Care: Use a sharp knife to cut chicken horizontally, creating even thickness for consistent cooking and better flavor absorption.
- Season Generously: Salt, pepper, and garlic powder penetrate meat deeply, enhancing overall taste profile and creating a flavor foundation.
- Secure Tightly: Use toothpicks strategically to prevent unrolling during cooking, maintaining the structural integrity of chicken roll-ups.
- Rest Before Serving: Allow chicken to sit 3-5 minutes after baking, letting juices redistribute for maximum tenderness and flavor concentration.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 675
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 48 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 50 g
- Cholesterol: 170 mg