Chicken Pesto Roll Ups are full of rich flavors from pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and melted parmesan cheese.

chicken pesto roll up on a bed of asparagus

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❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe: These easy-to-make chicken roll ups are made with simple, flavorful ingredients you buy at the store. The pesto, sun-dried tomatoes and melted parmesan cheese transforms the chicken into something extra special.

Update: We love this easy chicken breast recipe at our house, so I’ve updated the post with new photos and tips for the recipe!

pinterest button for sun dried tomato chicken roll ups

How to Make Chicken Pesto Roll Ups

Pesto is a mixture of ground pine nuts, basil, oil and a few other choice herbs. It’s very flavorful and a little goes a long way. You can find it in the store or make your own!

The first step in assembling the roll-ups is to prepare the chicken by slicing each breast in half lengthwise creating two cutlets.

Next, place each cutlet in between plastic wrap. Gently pound the cutlets with a meat tenderizer so they’re an even thickness about until ¼ inch thick.

Then add 2 teaspoons of pesto onto each chicken cutlet. Spread the pesto on each chicken breast so it is evenly covered. Finally, sprinkle on your sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan.

To close the wraps, gently roll each filled chicken filet, keeping the seams on the bottom. Sometimes during sauteing the rolls will want to come undone. If that happens, use toothpicks to keep them closed during sauteing and baking.

Sauteing the chicken rolls should give you a nice golden brown color. Be gentle when flipping each roll in the skillet so it stays together. If you notice any bits of tomato that fell out of the chicken, remove it from the pan before baking so they don’t burn.

ingredients for chicken pesto roll ups on a counter

Ingredient Notes

You can find pesto and sun-dried tomatoes in the same aisle as the pasta and pasta sauces. Typically they’re kept on a higher shelf as they are a specialty item and the jars are small.

Sun-dried tomatoes are just that, tomatoes dried in the sun (similar to a raisin). This process concentrates the flavor of the tomatoes and brings out their sweetness. They come in jars with oil.

Parmesan cheese is the perfect cheese for this recipe. A little goes a long way. Parmesan is strong and salty, making it the perfect complement to the savoriness of the tomatoes and pesto.

Fresh diced tomatoes and parsley are optional but add a bright and fresh taste. They balance the savory flavors of the chicken rolls perfectly as garnish.

Tip: If you like sauce, we recommend adding a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. A good quality balsamic should be thicker like maple syrup. A little goes a long way.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your chicken pesto roll-ups immediately. First, be sure to remove any toothpicks if you use them. Sprinkle with diced tomatoes, parmesan and parsley. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar an extra dose of sweet/savory flavor.

You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

A Note on Reheating

Be careful when reheating stored roll-ups. Chicken breast is a lean meat and can dry quickly if overheated. Start by microwaving for 30 seconds and then continue to heat in 10-second intervals until desired temperature is reached. Or reheat pot in pot in an Instant Pot.

More Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes

Try these quick and easy chicken recipes next:

Crispiest Chicken Tenders are made in the air fryer with an ultra-crisp coating of breadcrumbs.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Melts are loaded with melty cheese and tender chicken breast.
Kung Pao Chicken is a fast Asian-inspired recipe with diced chicken and colorful vegetables.

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