Description
Mozzarella & Roasted Red Pepper Chicken Roll-ups deliver Italian-inspired comfort with elegant simplicity. Juicy chicken breasts wrapped around creamy mozzarella and sweet peppers, then drizzled with herbal pesto, create a delightful meal you’ll savor from first bite to last.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 chicken cutlets
Cheese:
- 1⅓ cups (approximately 335 milliliters) shredded mozzarella cheese
Flavor Enhancers and Additional Ingredients:
- 2 jarred fire-roasted red peppers
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) pesto sauce
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Sea salt
- Fresh black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper for easy cleanup and non-stick cooking.
- Pat the chicken cutlets dry with paper towels to ensure proper seasoning adhesion and even cooking.
- Season both sides of the chicken cutlets generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance their natural flavor profile.
- Arrange the seasoned chicken cutlets flat on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are not overlapping.
- Evenly spread of vibrant basil pesto across each chicken cutlet, covering from edge to edge to maximize flavor distribution.
- Position half a roasted red pepper at the narrow end of each cutlet, creating a colorful and flavorful base for the roll-ups.
- Sprinkle approximately of shredded mozzarella cheese over the roasted red pepper, ensuring even coverage.
- Carefully roll each chicken cutlet from the narrow end, creating tight, compact rolls that seal in the filling.
- Secure each roll-up with 2-3 toothpicks to prevent unraveling during baking.
- Dust the exterior of each roll-up with Italian seasoning blend to add an extra layer of aromatic herbs.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Remove from the oven and let the roll-ups rest for 3-5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
- Carefully extract the toothpicks from each roll-up and discard them.
- Finish by drizzling the remaining pesto sauce over the top of each chicken roll-up before serving hot.
Notes
- Elevate your weeknight dinner with these stunning chicken roll-ups that combine bold Mediterranean flavors.
- Roasting bell peppers beforehand intensifies their sweet, smoky taste and adds complexity to the dish.
- Toothpicks are essential for keeping these delicate rolls tightly sealed during baking, ensuring perfect presentation.
- Mozzarella melts beautifully inside the roll, creating a creamy interior that complements the herb-infused pesto.
- Serve immediately after removing toothpicks to maintain the roll-ups’ elegant shape and vibrant appearance.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking, Roasting, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 105mg