This easy chicken rollatini recipe is a fun way to dress up chicken in a hurry. This recipe is so versatile and easy it's perfect for casual weeknights and also makes a great entree for cozy dinner parties. The lemon parsley pesto adds a fresh zing to the savory Italian herbs and spices in the chicken. Pair with your favorite steamed or roasted vegetables or save time and prep Caponata, French Lentil Salad or Quinoa Tabbouleh ahead of time.
Time saving tip: The thinner the filets, the quicker they cook.
For the filling
2 cups breadcrumbs, finely ground (use gluten free breadcrumbs to make this a gluten free meal)
1/4 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp garlic powder
pinch of kosher salt
freshly cracked pepper, to taste
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano, freshly grated
For the Chicken
2 Chicken Breasts, thinly sliced into 6 even sized cutlets
For the Parsley Pesto
1/2 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
2 tbsp Parmigiano Reggiano, freshly grated or cut into small chunks
pinch kosher salt
1 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
Prepare the Filling
Preheat oven to 400°F
In a medium bowl, add all filling ingredients and mix until well combined
Set aside
Prepare the Chicken
On a large flat surface, layer each chicken cutlet
Sprinkle about 1/4 cup filling evenly over the length of each cutlet
Add more, as needed
Roll each cutlet tightly from end to end
Place each rollatini onto a greased baking sheet approximately an inch apart and brush olive oil over the top of each
If needed, pierce each rollatini with a toothpick to keep it from unrolling
Bake the Rollatini
Place chicken into the preheated oven
Bake for 30 minutes or longer, depending on the thickness of the cutlets, until internal temperature reaches 165°F and outer surface begins to brown
Prepare the Parsley Pesto
While chicken is baking, add all pesto ingredients except the olive oil into a food processor
Pulse until parsley is finely chopped
Scrape the sides and slowly add olive oil while pulsing until pesto is smooth and emulsified
Cut each rollatini in half and serve with the parsley pesto on the side or drizzled over each piece.
Pair with steamed or seared asparagus, broccoli or your vegetable of choice. For a heartier meal, serve alongside French Lentil Salad or Quinoa Tabbouleh. Both of these sides can be made in advance to save time. Enjoy!
With only 122 calories, 3 grams total fat (primarily unsaturated), low cholesterol , 0 carbohydrates and 24 grams of protein, a 3 ounce serving of chicken breast is a lean, healthy way to incorporate high quality protein into a meal. Chicken is also a good source of B vitamins (Niacin, B6 and B12), selenium and phosphorus. When eaten as part of a healthy balanced diet, chicken supports a wide range of functions including metabolism, energy production, brain health, immune function, nerve function and helps maintain lean muscle mass.
Did you give this recipe a try?
Share a photo on Facebook or Instagram with the tag @curious_artichoke or hashtag it with #curious_artichoke