Have you discovered Pesto Chicken?! These chicken pesto roll ups are stuffed with cheese, juicy tomatoes and pesto sauce! This pesto chicken tastes like fine dining with Tuscan flavors but they are so easy to make.

Pesto Chicken. Must-try Chicken Pesto Roll Ups! Stuffed with cheese, juicy tomatoes and pesto! Chicken Pesto Roll Ups taste like fine dining, but are so easy to make. | natashaskitchen.com

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This is my sister, Svetlana’s pesto chicken recipe. She sent me a photo of her dinner last week and I set out to recreate it right away. My Mother (who was trained in the culinary arts), was particularly smitten with this recipe. Mom’s rave reviews are especially valuable to me. 🙂

Chicken Pesto Roll Ups Recipe:

These chicken roll ups are simple enough for weeknight cooking but are also special occasion worthy!

Pesto Chicken Recipe. These Chicken Pesto Roll Ups are stuffed with cheese, juicy tomatoes and pesto!

Ingredients for Pesto Chicken Roll Ups:

The list of ingredients in this pesto chicken is short and uncomplicated: Chicken, simple seasoning, shredded mozzarella and tomatoes. P.S. We fell in love with homemade pesto sauce but the one from Costco also works really well.

Must-try Chicken Pesto Roll Ups! Stuffed with cheese, juicy tomatoes and pesto! Chicken Pesto Roll Ups taste like fine dining, but are so easy to make. | natashaskitchen.com

How to Make Chicken Pesto Roll-Ups:

1. Preheat oven to 425˚F. Cut each chicken breast in half lengthwise so you have 8 thin chicken cutlets. Pound each cutlet in a quart sized ziploc bag or between 2 sheets of plastic wrap to 1/8″ thick. Season both sides of your thin cutlets with garlic salt and black pepper.

Two photos of chicken on a cutting board covered in silicon wrap and a meat hammer in one photo

2. Spoon and spread 1 Tbsp pesto in the center of each cutlet, top with 2 thin slices of tomato and sprinkle with 2-3 Tbsp shredded mozzarella cheese. Roll the chicken up as tightly as you can and seal ends with a toothpick.

Must-try Chicken Pesto Roll Ups! Stuffed with cheese, juicy tomatoes and pesto! Chicken Pesto Roll Ups taste like fine dining, but are so easy to make. | natashaskitchen.com

3. Preheat a large oven-safe skillet over medium/high heat with 1 Tbsp oil and 1 Tbsp butter. Add chicken roll-ups and sear on both sides until golden (4 min per side for a total of 8 minutes on the stove).

Must-try Chicken Pesto Roll Ups! Stuffed with cheese, juicy tomatoes and pesto! Chicken Pesto Roll Ups taste like fine dining, but are so easy to make. | natashaskitchen.com

4. Sprinkle tops with remaining cheese and scatter 1 cup of baby tomatoes over the top. Place the oven-safe skillet on the center rack of your preheated oven and bake 425˚F for 13-15 minutes (13 minutes for these medium chicken breasts and 15 minutes for larger chicken breasts, or until internal temperature of chicken reaches 160˚F on an instant-read thermometer.

Must-try Chicken Pesto Roll Ups! Stuffed with cheese, juicy tomatoes and pesto! Chicken Pesto Roll Ups taste like fine dining, but are so easy to make. | natashaskitchen.com

To serve, remove toothpicks then plate chicken pesto roll ups, spooning pan juices and roasted tomatoes over the top and garnish with freshly chopped basil. Serve with mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus for a fancy (but simple) dinner!

Watch How to Make Chicken Pesto Roll Ups:


Is your mouth watering yet??

⬇Print-Friendly Chicken Pesto Roll-Ups Recipe:

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Chicken Pesto Roll-Ups (VIDEO)

4.94 from 158 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
These chicken pesto roll ups are stuffed with cheese, juicy tomatoes and pesto sauce! These taste like fine dining with Tuscan flavors but they are so easy to make.
Prep Time: 19 minutes
Cook Time: 21 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 8 chicken roll-ups
  • 2 lbs chicken breasts, (4 medium/large chicken breasts)
  • 1 tsp Garlic Salt, (or to taste)
  • 1/4 tsp Black Pepper, (or to taste)
  • 1/2 cup Pesto sauce, (about 8 Tbsp total)
  • 8 oz Mozzarella cheese, shredded,, (reserve 2 oz for topping)
  • 2 tomatoes (medium), thinly sliced into 16 rings
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, optional
  • 1 Tbsp Fresh basil leaves, shredded, optional garnish
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425˚F. Cut chicken breast in half lengthwise so you have 8 thin chicken cutlets. Pound each cutlet in a quart sized ziploc bag or between 2 sheets of plastic wrap into 1/8" thick cutlets. Season both sides of chicken with garlic salt and black pepper.
  • Spoon and spread 1 Tbsp pesto in the center of each cutlet, top with 2 thin tomato slices and sprinkle with 2-3 Tbsp mozzarella cheese. Roll the chicken up tightly and seal ends with a toothpick.
  • Preheat large oven-safe skillet over medium/high heat with 1 Tbsp oil and 1 Tbsp butter. Add chicken roll-ups and sear on both sides until golden (4 min per side or 8 minutes total on the stove).
  • Sprinkle tops with remaining cheese and 1 cup of cherry tomatoes. Place the skillet on the center rack of oven and bake 425˚F for 13-15 minutes (13 min for these these medium chicken breasts and 15 min for larger chicken breasts, or until internal temp of chicken reaches 160˚F on instant-read thermometer.

Notes

To serve, remove toothpicks then plate chicken pesto roll-ups, spooning pan juices and roasted tomatoes over the top and garnish with freshly chopped basil. Serve with mashed potatoes and asparagus for a fancy (but simple) dinner!

Nutrition Per Serving

295kcal Calories3g Carbs32g Protein16g Fat5g Saturated Fat95mg Cholesterol745mg Sodium520mg Potassium1g Sugar765IU Vitamin A7.8mg Vitamin C256mg Calcium0.7mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Chicken Pesto Roll-Ups (VIDEO)
Amount per Serving
Calories
295
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
16
g
25
%
Saturated Fat
 
5
g
31
%
Cholesterol
 
95
mg
32
%
Sodium
 
745
mg
32
%
Potassium
 
520
mg
15
%
Carbohydrates
 
3
g
1
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
32
g
64
%
Vitamin A
 
765
IU
15
%
Vitamin C
 
7.8
mg
9
%
Calcium
 
256
mg
26
%
Iron
 
0.7
mg
4
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken pesto roll-ups
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 295

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

Must-try Chicken Pesto Roll Ups! Stuffed with cheese, juicy tomatoes and pesto! Chicken Pesto Roll Ups taste like fine dining, but are so easy to make. | natashaskitchen.com

Q: Have you tried Pesto Chicken?

P.S. These chicken pesto roll ups reheat really well if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers! I hope you and your family love these easy, excellent chicken pesto roll-ups.

If you love chicken, check out this popular one-pan Chicken Madeira and all of our favorite chicken recipes HERE.

Must-try Chicken Pesto Roll Ups! Stuffed with cheese, juicy tomatoes and pesto! Chicken Pesto Roll Ups taste like fine dining, but are so easy to make. | natashaskitchen.com

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Sandra Leto
    July 16, 2023

    Natasha,
    I love the chicken pesto roll up recipe and want to make it for a fun dinner party …game night with friends. I’d like to sauté the chicken then move the roll ups to a Pyrex dish a few hours before the dinner. I assume I should refrigerate the dish, take it out a while before placing it in the oven? Would you add more time to the oven cooking? Would you add the tomatoes, mozzarella and cover ? Would the oven temperature be the same? Thanks for your thoughts.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 17, 2023

      Hi Sandra! I have not experimented with that to advise. My concern is that partially cooking the chicken (sautéing) and then refrigerating is unsafe food handling. You can find more details here at USDA.gov
      You should be able to prepare, fill, roll, refrigerate, and then proceed with the recipe as instructed. It may add a few more minutes to the cooking time since they will be cold. You’ll have to watch them in the oven. I hope that helps. Good luck!

      Reply

  • Janet Edwards
    June 21, 2023

    My husband came to the table and said….wow….fancy cooking again? It was scrumptious. Madiera will be next!!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 21, 2023

      Hi Janet! That’s awesome. I’m so glad it was a hit.

      Reply

  • jim
    May 27, 2023

    made this today using your basil pesto. super delicious. i usually cant stand chicken breasts because they dont have any flavor but the pesto really took them to another level. eeryone loved it.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      May 27, 2023

      That’s great, Jim! Thank you for the wonderful feedback.

      Reply

      • Gavin Miller
        June 12, 2023

        I love this recipe, only thing I’ve changed is dry spaghetti noodles, instead of toothpicks!

        Reply

        • NatashasKitchen.com
          June 12, 2023

          That’s a great idea, Gavin! Thank you for sharing.

          Reply

  • Chris
    March 29, 2023

    I have never left a review on a recipe site, but this was beyond amazing! I was looking for a non boring chicken dish and this will now be in the rotation! Thank you!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 29, 2023

      Hello Chris, thanks for this review. We appreciate it!

      Reply

  • Wayne
    March 4, 2023

    Absolutely delicious flavours. A little bit of work but the flavours work so well together. I made a sauce with the tomatoes and added some additional veggies like eggplant and mushrooms and stuffed the chicken with red bell peppers but its the roll-ups that are the highlight. The pesto omg, so yummy. Thanks Natasha!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 4, 2023

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Wayne!

      Reply

    • Keena
      April 2, 2023

      Just delicious and it does taste like a restaurant dish! I used thinly sliced sun dried tomatoes in the stuffing instead of regular tomatoes for more flavor. And also added a thin slice of prosciutto as well and it was great. I added some homemade chicken stock and a dash of lemon to the pan to take advantage of all the amazing flavors in there.
      It’s not hard to prepare and everyone tonight loved it and no leftovers! Bravo!

      Reply

      • NatashasKitchen.com
        April 2, 2023

        Thank you for sharing, Keena! I’m so glad it was a hit!

        Reply

  • James
    September 26, 2022

    Another recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen that I have truly enjoyed.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 26, 2022

      Thanks, James! So glad you loved it.

      Reply

  • Desta
    September 26, 2022

    Hi Natasha,
    Can l make this recipe half ready a day before?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 26, 2022

      Hi Desta! We like to make this fresh but can definitely try it. I don’t know how the tomato slices would do if they are cut a day before and stuffed in the chicken. Let us know how it turns out.

      Reply

    • Desta
      September 29, 2022

      Tks, Natasha, Do you have any other chicken breast recipes which l can half prepare a day before and finish it in an ovn on the day? So l can have time with my guests.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        September 29, 2022

        Hi Desta, you can find all my chicken break recipes using the search toll on the website. Simply type in “chicken” and all of the options will appear. I hope you love the recipes you find!

        Reply

  • Suzanne
    August 23, 2022

    Hi Natasha,
    What if I don’t have an oven proof skillet, suggestions please!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 23, 2022

      Hi Suzanne! You could still make this recipe if you have another oven-safe pan, it doesn’t have to be this type of skillet. Most pans are oven safe but the oven-safe temperature varies by brand, materials, and pan types. Look for the oven-safe symbol or wording on the bottom of your pan and if you are not sure, you could research on google for more information on what pans are best to use. I suppose you could also transfer this to a baking dish, like a glass pyrex dish. One of my readers commented, “I skipped the pan frying step, and put the roll ups in a glass baking dish with the olive oil and butter. I baked them, covered with aluminum foil, for 30 minutes, then uncovered for 10 minutes to brown them, and then uncovered for another 5 minutes with the additional shredded mozzarella on top to melt the cheese!”
      I hope this helps!

      Reply

  • Tammy
    May 9, 2022

    Natasha:)
    I have a really dumb question for you. I have this same staub Dutch oven that you use for this recipe. My question is…..I wash it with soapy water per instructions, but everytime I dry it it has like a “residue” (don’t really know how to describe it) inside of it. Does yours also do this? I hope I don’t have a defective pan because it’s been discontinued. I can’t seem to reach anyone with staub so I am asking you your experience with it. Sorry to bother about something so silly, but just wondering 🤔 thank you! I love your blog!! 😀

    Reply

    • Natasha
      May 9, 2022

      Hi Tammy, I don’t think it’s a residue as much as just dulling of the coating in the pot. I think that sounds pretty normal and it’s a great question! If you are concerned, you might send a message to Staub on IG or FB to see iff there’s a fix or some kind of advice to preserve the pretty sheen but I don’t know what that would be.

      Reply

      • Tammy
        May 10, 2022

        Thanks so much for getting back to me. I appreciate it. Have a happy day 😊

        Reply

        • Natashas Kitchen
          May 10, 2022

          I hope you have a great day also, Tammy!

          Reply

    • Beth
      May 10, 2022

      Tammy I have the same issue. Once cleaned and very dry I put on a drop or two of flax seed oil. I mean next to nothing. Then I use a paper towel to wipe the oil throughout the pan. I dry and rub with a paper towel for a good minute. Leaves it looking like new. Hope this helps!

      Reply

  • Laura Ring
    February 7, 2022

    So easy to make & so good! Honey’s words (as he was going for 2nds!) “Its a keeper!”

    Natasha – you’re making me look like an amazing cook! 🙂

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 7, 2022

      It’s definietly a keeper! Thank you for sharing. I am glad it was a hit!

      Reply

  • Rhonda Greeson
    February 4, 2022

    Oh my – had these for dinner tonight – winner! Kinda had to fight my hubby for the last goobers in the skillet…

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 5, 2022

      I’m so glad thee were a hit, Rhonda! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

      Reply

  • Cheryl
    January 28, 2022

    This is absolutely incredible and so easy. Be good for a dinner party. I left out tomatoes due to reflex and added spinach on top of pesto and then the cheese. The sauce finishes it off when serving.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 28, 2022

      This is THE perfect dish for a dinner party!

      Reply

  • Vanessa
    December 28, 2021

    Hi-once again I am looking for a family dinner recipe. Wondering if there can be any other substitutions for the tomatoes? My son can not eat anything with seeds so adding tomatoes is a no-no. Maybe asparagus? Thanks

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 28, 2021

      Hi Vanessa, we love this recipe with tomatoes and haven’t tried without it yet, but others commented and shared this. “Didn’t have regular tomatoes but substituted baby spinach leaves. Used fresh basil from the garden and homemade pesto. It smells wonderful. Thanks for this recipe!” I hope that helps.

      Reply

  • MARY JANE JANE LIZER
    December 13, 2021

    Made these over the weekend, simply delicious. Easy to followup recipe, my son said “simply awesome” Thanks for all the great recipes that make me look good. Merry Christmas!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 14, 2021

      Hello Mary Jane, good to know that you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for the review.

      Reply

  • Kem
    October 12, 2021

    I made these tonight and they were delicious! They didn’t stay rolled up very well, but they tasted delicious!! I will definitely make these again!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 12, 2021

      Hi Ken, good to know that you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks for your comments and feedback!

      Reply

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