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Chicken Pillows Recipe: Easy Creamy Baked Dinner with Parmesan Sauce

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Golden, flaky chicken pillows filled with creamy, savory chicken and topped with a velvety homemade Parmesan sauce. This easy baked dinner is a family favorite, perfect for weeknights or potlucks, and comes together in under 45 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or finely chopped
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp dried parsley (or 1 tbsp fresh, chopped)
  • 1/4 tsp salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp milk (any kind)
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or a blend of mozzarella and cheddar)
  • 2 cans (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent roll dough
  • 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs (panko recommended for extra crunch)
  • 2 tbsp melted butter (for brushing on top)
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter (for sauce)
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk (or half-and-half for richer sauce)
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder (for sauce)
  • 1/4 tsp salt (for sauce)
  • 1/8 tsp ground white or black pepper
  • Pinch of nutmeg (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet or casserole dish with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, cream cheese, 2 tbsp melted butter, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, salt, pepper, milk, and shredded mozzarella. Mix until creamy and well combined. Add a splash more milk if the filling is too thick.
  3. Open crescent roll dough and separate into 8 rectangles. Press seams together if needed and lay flat on the prepared baking sheet.
  4. Spoon 2-3 tbsp of chicken mixture onto the center of each rectangle. Pull corners over the filling and pinch seams closed to form a pillow shape.
  5. In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs with 2 tbsp melted butter. Sprinkle over each pillow and press gently to adhere.
  6. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed. If bottoms are pale, bake an additional 2-3 minutes.
  7. While pillows bake, make the Parmesan sauce: Melt 2 tbsp butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk, stirring constantly, and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
  8. Lower heat and add Parmesan, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir until cheese melts and sauce is silky. Add more milk if sauce is too thick.
  9. Remove chicken pillows from oven and let cool for 3-5 minutes. Serve warm, drizzled with Parmesan sauce and garnished with extra parsley if desired.

Notes

For best results, use room temperature ingredients and freshly grated Parmesan. Don’t overfill the pillows and pinch seams tightly to prevent leaks. Sauce can be made ahead and reheated gently. For gluten-free, use GF crescent dough and flour. Leftovers reheat well in the oven. Add veggies like spinach or broccoli for extra nutrition.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken pillows, creamy baked dinner, parmesan sauce, crescent roll chicken, easy chicken bake, comfort food, family dinner, potluck recipe, stuffed crescent rolls, weeknight dinner

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