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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
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
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 13" x 9" pan with cooking spray.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Serve with cooked pasta of your choice.
Sherry says
This is phenomenal. .so easy..
carolyn says
Im eating this right now , it is so good !!!! i added cut up bacon to the mix, and cooking took longer but so good !!!!c
Valerie says
I like the way you think, Carolyn! A little bacon can never hurt a situation 🙂 I’m so glad it worked out for you.
Emily says
Any suggestions on time and temperature if you want to make a smaller portion?
Valerie says
Hi Emily. I’d go with the same oven temp and probably close to the same cooking time, as well. Check it about 5 to 10 minutes before the time stated by slicing into the chicken. If no pink remains, it’s time to come out of the oven.
JocelynM says
Calories and Nutritional Information on all of these recipes would be wonderful.
Valerie says
You are not the first person to request this Jocelyn. I will have to look into it!
Kristi Rimkus says
This is definitely a people pleasing chicken dish!
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
This is such a fun dish! I’d never guessed that there are pepperoni slices in the chicken! =D I can totally see kids would love this dish – and the name of the dish too. 😉
Willow says
This is brilliant. I haven’t had to deal with any teenage boys of my own, but have certainly had my run-ins with them. I think The Boyfriend would really enjoy this – pinning!
Valerie says
Thank you Willow! 🙂
Val says
Val….you are speaking my language…I love all things pizza and you kicked it up 100 notches and put it with chicken. Brilliant.