Gluten-Free Chicken Roll Ups (Petti di Pollo Alla Bolognese)

QUICK SUMMARY

These gluten-free Chicken Roll Ups are a special-occasion dinner with tender chicken, melty dairy-free cheese, crisp gluten-free breading, and a buttery herb-wine sauce.

They’re also make-ahead friendly, freezer-friendly, and kid-approved. We call them “Roly-Poly Chicken,” but the classic inspiration is Petti di Pollo Alla Bolognese.

Chicken breast provides lean, complete protein, herbs add antioxidant-rich flavor, and gluten-free breading makes this recipe easier to serve to guests avoiding gluten.

This is one of those recipes that feels fancy but becomes simple once you know the little tricks.

I grew up making versions of this dish, and once I had a family of my own, I cleaned up the ingredients so we could enjoy the same comfort-food flavor while honoring our gluten-free, non-toxic lifestyle.

Tips for Chicken Success

Roll-up recipes work best when you prep intentionally.

• When scoring the butter, use a knife! As the butter gets hard, it will already show the correct marks and won’t crack unevenly. I usually slice the butter two times one way and four the other.
• Be sure to flatten the chicken breasts! Pounding them makes them look uniform, and it makes the meat tender. You mustn’t skip this step!
• Gluten-free flour tends to absorb more, so you may need more eggs. I like to create an assembly line with three large bowls or gallon-size freezer bags.
• Remember, you should throw out any leftover flour, breadcrumbs, or eggs since they came in contact with raw meat!
• Large chicken breasts can be cut in half vertically and used for the kids’ plates.
• When scoring the herbed cheese, try to make the sizes congruent with your chicken breasts. Any cheese that isn’t sealed inside the chicken will ooze out the sides while baking.
• You can make the chicken in advance and freeze it. When ready to make your meal, let it thaw for 6 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Bake as usual!
• You can also make the butter herb sauce ahead of time. I like to put the frozen butter sauce and wine in a small pot on the stove’s back burner. As I use the oven throughout the day, the heat melts the sauce. Once the mixture melts, I’ll bring it to a low boil to cook the alcohol out. Be sure to keep a lid on the pan, so it doesn’t reduce!
• The herbed butter mixture is fantastic on gluten-free rolls as well!

Quick answer: The secret to juicy chicken roll ups is thin, evenly pounded chicken, tightly sealed cheese, and a two-stage bake so the breading sets before the herb-wine sauce is added.

Healthy Chicken Ingredients 101

You can make this delicious recipe with just ten ingredients. Here’s what you need to add to your shopping list.

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: Chicken breast is a practical whole-food protein for busy families. Poultry provides high-quality protein, and skinless chicken breast is a lean option that works beautifully for stuffing, rolling, and baking. (1)

When purchasing chicken, look for organic, free-range birds whenever your budget allows.

Butter: A huge fad in diet culture eschewed butter in favor of margarine. Gross! Research on butter has been more nuanced than the old “butter is bad” headlines, with one systematic review finding relatively small or neutral associations between butter consumption and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and total mortality. (2)

We recommend using grass-fed, organic butter whenever possible.

Herbs: A savory blend of herbs takes this recipe to a new level! We use a yummy combination of oregano, marjoram, and parsley. These healthy herbs and spices complement each other and bring out the flavor of the meat.

This is important: herbs are not just “green decoration.” Oregano contains flavonoids and phenolic acids that have demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in research. (3) Fresh herbs taste bright and beautiful, but dried herbs are wonderful when that’s what you have.

Gluten-Free Flour: The secret to amazing gluten-free recipes is to use high-quality flour. This ingredient helps the breading to stick and creates a crisp coating. We recommend using cup-for-cup flour blends.

For families with celiac disease, gluten-free is not a trend; it’s the foundation of care. Current medical literature continues to recognize a strict gluten-free diet as the only effective treatment for celiac disease. (4)

Eggs: A great binding agent helps breading to stay where it belongs. When the Chicken Roll Ups bake, the egg seals the breadcrumbs to the chicken.

When possible, purchase organic, cage-free eggs. These chickens have better living conditions, and they aren’t pumped full of antibiotics.

Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs: Did you know you can make gluten-free breadcrumbs yourself? Take your favorite gluten-free bread and toast it. Then, pulverize it in a food processor or blender until it reaches the proper consistency.

You can also buy them pre-made from the store. Either option works great!

Dairy-Free Block Cheese: We use plant-based cheese to keep this dish free of dairy (besides butter!). Alternative ingredients have come a long way, and you honestly can’t notice a difference in taste.

I recommend using Monterey-Jack-style cheese for the best results.

Make Chicken Roll Ups

This gourmet meal is bound to be a hit with friends and family. Guests will think you spent all day in the kitchen. This recipe serves four people.

Chicken Roll Ups: Mama Z's Petti di Pollo Alla Bolognese

Author Mama Z

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Quantity

2x4x6x

Ingredients

• ½ cup grass-fed butter softened
• ½ teaspoon oregano, chopped
• ½ teaspoon marjoram, chopped
• ½ teaspoon parsley, chopped
• ¼ lb Monterey-Jack-style dairy-free cheese alternative, in block form
• 4 boneless skinless organic free-range chicken breasts, halved
• 1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
• 2 pasture-raised organic eggs, beaten
• 1 cup fine dry gluten-free breadcrumbs
• ½ cup dry white wine

Supplies

• Mixing bowls
• Wooden mallet
• Toothpicks
• Baking sheet

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Combine the butter, oregano, marjoram, and parsley in a small bowl. Spread half of the herbed butter on top of the cheese block, and score the remaining butter into eight even pieces.
• Place the butter mixture and cheese block in the refrigerator to harden.
• Place the halved chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and flatten with a wooden mallet.
• Coat the chicken rolls, front and back, with gluten-free flour. Dip in beaten eggs, and last, breadcrumbs.
• Remove the cheese block from the refrigerator and cut it into eight even pieces based on the butter markings. Place one of these sticks on each pounded chicken breast.
• Roll each piece of meat as you would a jellyroll. Fasten with toothpicks.
• Place the chicken roll ups on a greased baking sheet and bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
• While the chicken is baking, unwrap the saved butter and melt it in a small saucepan. Stir in the wine.
• When the oven timer goes off, pour the sauce over the chicken and bake for 15 more minutes.
• We like serving this meal with brown rice. Pour the liquid from the dish over the chicken for a savory touch. Enjoy!

Notes

If you're planning on freezing the chicken breasts, wrap them in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag with the herbed butter.

You can freeze them for up to 4 months. When you're ready to bake them, remove them from the freezer and let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Bake as usual.

Step One: Create the Herbed Butter

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Combine the butter, oregano, marjoram, and parsley in a small bowl. Spread half of the herbed butter on top of the cheese block, and score the butter into eight even pieces.

Place the butter mixture and cheese block in the refrigerator to harden.

Step Two: Tenderize the Meat

Place the halved chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and flatten them with a wooden mallet.

Step Three: Bread and Stuff the Chicken

First, coat the chicken rolls, front and back, with gluten-free flour. Dip in beaten eggs, and last, breadcrumbs.

If you’re planning on freezing the chicken breasts, wrap them in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag with the herbed butter.

At this point, you can freeze the chicken roll-ups for up to 4 months. When you’re ready to bake them, remove them from the freezer and let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Bake as usual.

Remove the cheese block from the refrigerator and cut it into eight even pieces based on the butter markings. Place one of these sticks on each pounded chicken breast.

Roll each piece of meat as you would a jellyroll. Fasten with toothpicks.

Step Four: Bake the Chicken Roll Ups

Place the chicken roll ups on a greased baking sheet and bake uncovered for 20 minutes.

Step Five: Add the Wine Sauce

While the chicken is baking, unwrap the saved butter and melt it in a small saucepan. Stir in the wine. When the oven timer goes off, pour the sauce over the chicken and bake for 15 more minutes.

We like serving this meal with brown rice. Pour the liquid from the dish over the chicken for a savory touch. Enjoy!

Chicken Roll Ups FAQs

Can I make Chicken Roll Ups ahead of time?

Yes. Assemble the breaded, stuffed chicken, wrap it well, and freeze it for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.

What temperature should stuffed chicken reach?

Cook chicken until the thickest part reaches 165°F on a food thermometer. This is especially important with stuffed or rolled chicken.

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

This recipe already uses dairy-free block cheese, but it does include butter. To make it fully dairy-free, use a high-quality plant-based butter that melts well.

What can I serve with Chicken Roll Ups?

Brown rice, cauliflower rice, roasted vegetables, a green salad, or gluten-free rolls are all great choices. The herb-wine sauce tastes wonderful spooned over rice or vegetables.

Why does the cheese leak out?

Usually the chicken wasn’t rolled tightly enough, the cheese pieces were too large, or the chicken breast was not pounded thin and even. Toothpicks help keep everything sealed while baking.

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