Description
Satisfying mozzarella & red pepper chicken roll-ups with pesto emerge as a delightful Italian-inspired dish perfect for weeknight dinners. Melted cheese, roasted peppers, and herbal pesto combine to create a quick and flavorful meal you will savor with each bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 chicken cutlets
- 1 ⅓ cups (335 ml) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 jarred fire-roasted red peppers
- ½ cup (120 ml) pesto sauce
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Sea salt
- Fresh black pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for effortless cooking and cleanup.
- Chicken Preparation: Thoroughly dry chicken cutlets, then season both sides with kosher salt and black pepper to amplify natural flavors.
- Flavor Foundation: Spread basil pesto across each cutlet from edge to edge, creating a vibrant herbal base for the roll-ups.
- Filling Assembly: Layer roasted red pepper at the narrow end of each cutlet, topped with a generous sprinkle of mozzarella cheese, ensuring complete coverage.
- Rolling Technique: Carefully roll cutlets from the narrow end, forming tight cylinders that encase the colorful filling completely.
- Securing and Seasoning: Anchor each roll with 2-3 toothpicks and dust exterior with Italian seasoning blend to enhance aromatic profile.
- Baking Process: Slide baking sheet into preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) internal temperature, ensuring thorough cooking.
- Finishing Touch: Allow roll-ups to rest 3-5 minutes for juice redistribution, remove toothpicks, and drizzle with additional pesto sauce before serving piping hot.
Notes
- Ensure Moisture Control: Pat chicken cutlets completely dry to prevent soggy roll-ups and promote perfect golden-brown exterior.
- Temperature Precision: Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches exact 165°F internal temperature for safe, juicy results.
- Toothpick Pro Tip: Insert toothpicks diagonally through roll-ups to keep them secure and prevent unraveling during baking.
- Flavor Enhancement: Allow roll-ups to rest 3-5 minutes after cooking to redistribute internal juices and maximize tenderness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking, Roasting, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 365
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg