Cheesy stuffed pepperoni chicken stuffs juicy chicken breast full of savory pepperoni and gooey cheese then bakes it in a tomato sauce. This makes a delicious dinner that is easy to prep.
Ingredients
4chicken breastsAbout 2 lbs
3tablespoonsolive oildivided
½teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonpepper
½teaspoonItalian seasoning
14ouncesdiced tomatoesdiced, 2 cups if fresh
24ouncespizza sauceor marinara, about 3 cups
2cupsmozzarella cheeseshredded, divided
3ouncespepperoni slices
2tablespoonsfresh basilchopped, optional
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray, set aside.
With a sharp knife, butterfly each chicken breast. (see notes) This means cutting the chicken breast horizontally while still leaving the two pieces of the chicken attached so it opens like a book. Pounding the chicken breast (see notes) can also help if your chicken breasts are not close in size.
Stuff each chicken breast with a handful of cheese (about 1 cup) and a few pepperoni slices, then close the chicken.
Brush olive oil on the top of each chicken breast. Season each chicken breast with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.
Place the chicken in the prepared baking pan and surround with the diced tomatoes.
Carefully spread the pizza sauce evenly over the chicken breasts and tomatoes.
Top the chicken breasts with the remaining mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices and fresh basil.
Bake in the oven for about 45 minutes or until the internal temperature of chicken reads 165 degrees with a meat thermometer. Then enjoy!
Notes
Butterflying Chicken And Pounding Chicken
If you have never tried butterflying chicken before, these instructions will show you how to slice the chicken breast.If the chicken breast is not all the same size, you can also use the same directions to show you how to pound the chicken breast so they are all about the same thickness and will cook more evenly.
Prepping The Chicken Ahead Of Time
You can prep this dish easily ahead of time into the casserole dish up to 24 hours in advance as long as you cover and refrigerate it. Then when it's time for dinner you only have to bake. Leftovers also heat up deliciously.