This dish was a bit of an experiment. I knew I wanted to make a stuffed
chicken dish, but I also wanted to wrap bacon around chicken. So I put
all those steps into one dish. I decided at the last minute to cook
the chicken in the sauce and toss the pasta in the sauce. That was
pretty fabulous because it made a wonderful and flavorful side dish.
This meal got a thumbs up from everyone at the table.
Ingredients:
5-6 boneless chicken breast
5-6 slices of good quality bacon
25-30 slices of pepperoni
5-6 slices fresh mozzarella
1 large jar spaghetti sauce
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp garlic powder
red chili flakes to taste
salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 Parmesan cheese
1 box pasta cooked in salted water until al dente
Directions:
Butterfly chicken open by using knife to cut through the middle of the breast, but not all the way through. Season inside of chicken with some salt and black pepper. Layer some pepperoni slices and sliced mozzarella cheese. Fold over and enclose the pepperoni and cheese inside the chicken.
Take a slice of bacon and wrap around chicken. Pour pasta sauce into baking dish with garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil and red chili flakes. Place bacon wrapped chicken into dish. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 55 minutes or chicken is cooked through.
Remove baked chicken from cooked sauce and toss cooked pasta in sauce with 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
** If you don't the bacon grease, use a spoon to skim out the grease (it will be floating on the top) before tossing the pasta.
Eat stuffed chicken with pasta. Enjoy.