Pizza Stuffed Chicken

Boneless and skinless chicken breasts

Fresh mozzarella cheese

Pepperoni

1 large egg

1/2 cup all flour

1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs

Vegetable oil

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Pizza sauce

Slice each breast in half diagonally to create two diamond like shaped pieces. Cut a pocket into the side of each breast. Be sure not to cut all the way through the meat but rather just into one side so that the fillings will stay in.

Stuff each piece of chicken with cheese and about 4 slices of pepperoni. Lightly season each piece with salt and pepper. Set the stuffed chicken aside.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Heat a large skillet with vegetable oil over medium heat. Set up a breading station with flour, egg and the bread crumbs in bowls. Beat the egg until it is an even consistency (add a 1/2 tsp. of water to break it up).

One by one, coat each piece of chicken in the flour, then the egg and then the bread crumbs. Use your hands so that you can keep the open side of the pocket pinched closed and keep the fillings in.

Test the oil in the skillet to see if it is hot enough by dropping a small pinch of bread crumbs in. The bread crumbs should sizzle. It is very important that the oil is hot enough or else the breading will soak up a lot of oil and you’ll end up with some really greasy chicken. Place pieces of chicken in the skillet and cook until it is golden brown and crispy on each side. This should take no more than 2 to 3 minutes.

When you remove the chicken pieces from the skillet, transfer them to the baking sheet.  Bake them for 25 minutes or longer if you have really large breasts.  Serve with pizza sauce for dipping.

Variation – You can stuff your chicken breast with other flavor combinations that go well together like cheese and broccoli or Swiss cheese and ham.  I love meat lovers pizza.  Fry up a pan of several pizza meats and or ingredients like Canadian bacon, Italian sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions, etc.  Oh and you can’t forget the bacon and cheese.  You can also use an Italian bread crumb for extra seasoning if you like.  Get creative in your stuffing. 

Serve it with a very simple salad.   

Have a great day, be happy and may God bless you and yours.