Pizza Chicken

Chicken breasts are stuffed with a delicious three cheese and pepperoni mixture and baked with marinara sauce and more cheese. Pizza Chicken is a super family-friendly meal!

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This is an oldie but goodie that I’ve made ever since Boy #1 and #2 were small, cute, and agreeable. This was a time long, long ago before they turned into tall, grumbling teenage boys.

Have you ever gone clothes shopping with a teenage boy? Or, I should say, have you ever gone clothes shopping while a teenage boy stands nearby sighing loudly and yawning? Well, you haven’t lived until you do. It’s really, really fun. Yep. Thankfully, the older boys have grown out of this stage, which for boys seems to last from about age 13 until they get a girlfriend. Then all of the sudden they NEED to shop for clothes because apparently the first crumpled tee shirt they find on their floor just won’t cut it anymore {thanks for your help girls}. Take heart, parents of teenage boys. This time too shall pass and the cute, agreeable people will appear once again. Taller and maybe not quite as cute as they once were but more agreeable for sure.

Okay, sorry for the rambling, back to the Pizza Chicken.

It was Boy #1 and #2 who dubbed this dish Pizza Chicken and that is what we have called it ever since. It’s simple, wholesome, and cooks in 40 minutes. Kids will eat anything with “pizza” in the title but this dish is a hit with the little ones AND the big ones alike. It’s a winna!

Watch the quick video below to see how it’s done.

PIZZA CHICKEN

You will need thin sliced boneless chicken breasts for this recipe which you should be able to find at the grocery store. The thinner cut is a bit pricier so if you want to buy the less expensive thicker cut, here is a quick tutorial on how to prepare them before proceeding with the recipe.

Cut into the thickest edge with a very sharp knife.

Continue the cut all the way through the chicken breast…

…until you have cut completely through. Then slice it in half, creating two equal sized pieces.

You started with 3 and you now have 6!  If they are still too thick to roll, place them between sheets of plastic wrap and use the smooth side of a mallet to flatten them a bit more. They should be pliable and easy to roll.

Serve these delicious chicken bundles alongside some pasta which goes perfectly with the marinara and yummy filling.

Kid-friendly, but actually a quite elegant dinner that everyone in my house loves. I hope you all love it too!

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Pizza Chicken

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 6 small portions

Change the number in the box above to adjust serving size. Please note that size of cookware and cook time may vary.

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Ingredients

• 3 thick or 6 thin boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese divided
• 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni cut in half
• 1/3 cup grated or shaved parmesan cheese divided
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley divided
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Fresh ground pepper to taste
• 1 cup prepared marinara sauce
• Pasta of choice prepared according to package directions

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 13" x 9" pan with cooking spray.
2. If using thick chicken breasts, slice into each breast at it's thickest point and continue the cut all the way through, creating two evenly sized pieces. If still too thick, place chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound lightly with the smooth side of a mallet until chicken is thin and pliable enough to easily roll up. Repeat with remaining pieces of chicken. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl combine ricotta, egg, 1/4 cup mozzarella, 1/4 cup grated or shaved Parmesan, garlic, pepperoni, salt, pepper to taste, and 1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley. Mix well.
4. Place about 2 tablespoons of the ricotta filling on the short end of a chicken breast. Gently roll the chicken over the filling and place it, seam side down, in the prepared pan. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts. Pour the marinara sauce evenly over each piece of stuffed chicken. Top with remaining mozzarella, Parmesan, and the parsley.
5. Cover pan with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes or until no pink remains when you cut into chicken. Remove from oven.
6. Serve with cooked pasta of your choice.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

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