| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 1 hr 50 min |
| Active: | 40 min |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray, for the pan
- Four 8-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 ounces pepperoni, sliced thin
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella
- 1 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 2 ribs celery, trimmed
- 1 small carrot, trimmed
- 1 small onion, trimmed
- 3 tablespoons canola oil
- 4 ounces pepperoni, sliced into 1/4-inch strips
- 2 teaspoons tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- One 28-ounce can crushed San Marzano tomatoes
- 2 whole fresh basil leaves, plus more, chiffonade, for garnish
- 1 bay leaf
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Set a wire rack over a roasting pan and spray with the nonstick spray.
- Using a sharp knife, make a lengthwise, horizontal cut into the side of each chicken breast so you can open it up like a book. Place between two sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound out so it has an even thickness. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Lay slices of pepperoni down the middle of each breast, slightly overlapping each piece so there are no gaps. Top with slices of mozzarella. Sprinkle each piece of chicken with 1 tablespoon Parmesan. Starting with one of the edges of the chicken (that isn’t covered) roll each chicken breast over the top of the pepperoni and cheese (like a sushi roll) onto itself. Secure by inserting one skewer on each end and one in the middle so it retains its shape.
- Set up a breading station with 3 pans. Pour the flour into one and season with salt and pepper. Crack the eggs into a second pan and season with salt and pepper. Mix well. In the third pan, add the panko and remaining 3/4 cup Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper and mix well. Working with one chicken portion at a time, dip into the seasoned flour, then egg mixture and then panko, gently pressing the panko into the chicken all over, especially taking care to cover the seams and sides.
- Place the breaded chicken portions on the prepared rack seam-side down, ensuring they have space between them so they cook evenly. Spray with nonstick spray, then bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Allow to cool for a few minutes before slicing.
- Prepare the sauce: Add the celery, carrots and onion to a food processer and process until finely diced. Set aside.
- In a large pot, add the canola oil and thinly sliced pepperoni. Cook over medium heat, gently stirring, until the pepperoni is crisp, about 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside to drain on a paper towel. To the pepperoni fat in the pot, add the tomato paste, garlic and the onion-celery-carrot mixture and saute until golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, basil and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.
- Slice the chicken into 1-inch-thick slices and serve with the sauce. Garnish with the crispy pepperoni, basil and more Parmesan.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 4 servings |
| Calories | 1361 |
| Total Fat | 75 g |
| Saturated Fat | 26 g |
| Carbohydrates | 65 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 9 g |
| Protein | 102 g |
| Cholesterol | 388 mg |
| Sodium | 2110 mg |
Reviews
Family didn’t like it. Not making again
Fantastic!!!!! It’s a must…..
This is a terrific twist to the chicken Parmesan. I added a little Calabrian chili flake for heat to the sauce. I’ve made it in the oven and air fryer and I think the air fryer came out better with a crispier more golden coating.
Amazing, and not as time consuming as you might think. I started & finished it within 90 mins. Use a convection setting on your oven as possible as it’s healthier than frying but achieves much better color than regular oven roasting
I saw Hunter make this on Guy’s Ranch. I did a bit different but not much, it is very delicious! I even made the fried pepperoni garnish, who knew it would taste so good in the sauce and I made fettuccine. Will make again!
5 Star performance. Hunter!! Nice job today! You rocked it. Looking forward to making this soon.
Awesome Hunter!!