Pesto Chicken Pillows
These Pesto Chicken Pillows are an easy weeknight dinner. The inside has a creamy pesto chicken filling with a crunchy outside. Put this chicken recipe in your keeper file!
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CHICKEN PESTO PILLOWS
Trying to manage this back-to-school madness is a full time job in itself. I currently have kids in high school, junior high, and elementary.
The one thing I am very passionate about is family dinner. There are very few times that we are not all at the dinner table. I realize that with activities that too may end soon and that makes me sad.
Part of getting my act together is making easy meals that my family loves. Dinner time is when we talk about our favorite part of the day or the worst so we can help each other out.
People always think that because I blog about food that my own dinners are always extravagant. I’m all about easy people. So when the chaos starts happening, I pull out the big guns.
These Pesto Chicken Pillows have a creamy chicken filling inside a buttery crunchy crescent roll. No one is complaining when these are on the table.
HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN PESTO PILLOWS
- First, in a medium bowl mix together the cream cheese, chicken, pesto, and green onions.
- Add about 1/3 cup of the mixture into the crescent roll and pinch the seams tight.
- Fill each crescent rectangle with some filling and dip it in butter.
- I like to roll it in Panko crumbs. You could definitely use breadcrumbs here but I like the extra crunch that Panko crumbs give it.
- Next, place the pillows on the prepared baking sheets. I line all of my pans with foil or parchment. It’s not that it’s that necessary, I just like an easier clean up.
- Bake until nice and golden.
WHAT ARE PANKO BREAD CRUMBS?
Panko bread crumbs are Japanese-style bread crumbs made from white bread without the crusts. This makes a light and super crispy coating.
OTHER CHICKEN RECIPES:
- Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Baked Chicken Chimichangas
- One-Pan Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice
- One-Pan Cheesy Chicken Fajita Rice
- Teriyaki Chicken
- One-Pan Monterey Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup basil pesto
- 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
- 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken
- 2 (8 ounce) packages Pillsbury® Crescent Rolls
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 1 1/2 cups seasoned Panko bread crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. If using foil spray the foil lightly with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl add the cream cheese, pesto, green onions, and chicken. Stir until combined. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Unroll the crescent dough. Take two triangles and press them together to form a rectangle.
- Spoon about 1/3 cup of the chicken mixture in the center of the rectangle and bring the corners of the crescent dough together, pinching to seal.
- Place the Panko crumbs on a plate. Dip each chicken pillow in the melted butter (or brush it on using a pastry brush) and roll it in the Panko crumbs.
- Place the chicken pillows seam side down on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until chicken pillows have turned golden brown.
Notes
We have made this with chicken and it tastes amazing! Wondering if I could sub chicken for tilapia. Trying to eat more fish, but we don’t necessarily like the taste. Thinking this would be a good way to mask the taste. Any thoughts?
oi that’s a hard one. I think you would still be able to taste the fish
I love how easy it is to make and customize these. We add an Italian cheese blend and capers. I’ve even made a buffalo version of these! So easy and delicious! Thank you!!
Yum! Sounds delicious
I was so excited to see you highlighted in BYU Today! I was like, I KNOW her! I really don’t, I’ve just been a fan since your blog was a baby, so I feel like we’ve been great friends for a long time. That’s what food does though, right? Anyway, congrats on being the headliner!
Aww thank you! I didn’t know about that. I’ll have to check it out.
We’re very excited to try these! I was wondering if you can freeze these to have ready for another day and at what point in the recipe would you need to do this (before rolling in butter & breading in Panko or after that step was done) and whether you should defrost them before baking.
Oh, my goodness these “Pesto Chicken Pillows are sooooooooo delicious they’re sinful. Will have to double the amount next time when family comes… Loved , loved, loved them.
Yay! That makes me happy!
Never heard of chicken pillows but they sound like something I need to know better ;). Looks amazing!
Thank you! We love them.
My family loves these. I always need to make a double batch. I added thawed and drained frozen spinach for a healthy twist.
Ooh yum! Love your twist!
wondering if puff pastry could replace croissant dough?
I think it would be great.
Thanks for not having you dip it in eggs. I am allergic to eggs and sometimes have a difficult time adapting recipes to not include eggs.
You’re welcome!
Just put these in the oven… smells great! Can’t wait to taste them! Thanks for your recipe.
Two thumbs up!, I just finished making them and first bite, delicious. I only put 1/3 cup of filling in each, I didn’t feel as though I would have enough for eight if I used the 1/2 cup as the recipe specified and I really didn’t expect them to be so big, one is more than enough for me. Thanks for sharing your great recipes I love trying new things.
Greate post. Keep posting such kind of information on your page.
Im really impressed by it.
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I’ll definitely digg it and for my part suggest to my friends.
I’m sure they’ll be benefited from this site.
These look great! I’ve had chicken pillows before that end up being dry on their own. Do you ever pair these with a gravy or sauce?
I have another version on this site with gravy. I didn’t find these dry at all.
This is my favorite recipe, ever!
Easy to make, super tasty, and fills everyone up.
I just started a vegetarian diet, though, so I’m sad to see this taken off my cooking list. Any idea what you can use for a chicken substitute?
You can leave it out. It would be great without.
For the shredded chicken, what do you use to season chicken?
I just use salt and pepper.
This recipe is AWESOME! My boyfriend fell in love when I made it 🙂
Glad I could help…
Can these pillows be assembled and the frozen to cook later? Can they be cooked and then frozen? Would taste value be affected by either process? Woul love to make these for a large group luncheon.
Yes! You can definitely freeze these cooked or uncooked and they should taste fine!
how would you go about re-heating the frozen ones?
The best results would be in the oven at 350 for 10-15 minutes.
Hi, this looks so good. I have a question, is there anything I can substitute the crescent rolls for anything, maybe like pizza dough or something? Thanks
Yes, absolutely. Use pizza dough or even biscuit dough.
Oh my goodness. These look amazing, will have to give them a try!
I made these for dinner and they were a huge hit. My kids and husband loved them!
Great!
These look soooo super yummy! I’m all about easy dinners. Will have to give these a try sometime soon!
I will definitely make this Pesto Chicken Pillow, looks delicious!
I just bought an extra jar of pesto the other day. These are going on my to make list 🙂
I love how easy this is!
Hey Christy!
I LOVE YOUR BLOG. I love the name of your blog. So much that your’s was an example my husband and me used to create our blog a couple of months ago. I wanted to match the creativity of the name and the simplicity of design. I have gone back and forth from your website sooooo many times to check if I am matching up at least a little! Thanks for everything.
PS: I came across your blog when I was looking to make pull apart bread 🙂 N the stalking has not ceased ever since 😛
Hey, I love being stalked! I’m going to check out your site!
These were so fantastic!! My husband eats a lot of food that is sort of “plain” and he really enjoyed these! Very simple, and such a great take on the traditional chicken crescents!
I made these last night and they were AMAZING. I was afraid the cream cheese would be overwhelming it’s a perfect balance. I brought the rest into work today and they are all gone!
Great news!
I made these for the family this weekend. They were such a hit! Delicious!
OMG that looks so good =)
Oh my goodness those look heavenly, and as though I would be lulled into a nap afterwards dreaming of eating more.
I was looking for something different and I think I’ve found it. Yum yum, can’t wait to try.
Love this idea of dipping them in butter and breadcrumbs! Looks super yummy!
Look super tasty! And so simple!
These seriously look incredible
These look great and I bet they are super yummy! Cream cheese and chicken.. .yum! Thanks for sharing.
My, these chicken pillows look dreamy! pun intended 😉
HAHAHAHA!
So can’t wait to try these. What a simple and delicious idea.