Ingredients
4 (6 oz each) halal boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese, drained
1/3 cup alcohol-free basil pesto
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (dried or fresh)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C)
Drain ricotta well; combine with pesto and garlic in a bowl
Place each chicken breast between plastic wrap and gently pound with a meat mallet to 1/4″ thickness
Season both sides with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning
Spoon 2 tsp ricotta mixture onto the center of each breast
Roll tightly and secure with toothpicks
Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium heat
Sear rollups 1 minute per side
Transfer skillet to oven and bake 20-22 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F
Garnish with parsley before serving
Notes
Ricotta filling melts into the chicken while baking, enhancing moisture
Use homemade pesto with olive oil and fresh basil for extra flavor
Toasting the garlic in the skillet before making fillings adds depth
For a fresh alternative to Italian seasoning, use 1/2 tsp each dried oregano and thyme
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Lean Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Halal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 rollup
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 140mg