1. Prep the Chicken

Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grab your chicken breasts and trim off any excess fat. You want nice, smooth chicken breasts that are easy to roll. If your chicken breasts are on the thicker side, I recommend slicing them in half horizontally to make them easier to roll up. You should end up with thinner pieces, perfect for stuffing!

2. Season the Chicken

Next, season the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried oregano. This simple seasoning will help enhance the flavor of the chicken and give it a nice base to carry the pesto.

3. Spread the Pesto

Spread about one to two tablespoons of pesto over each chicken breast. You can use store-bought pesto if you’re short on time, but making homemade pesto (recipe below) really elevates this dish. Just use a spoon or a pastry brush to cover the chicken evenly. Make sure the pesto gets into the nooks and crannies of the chicken to infuse it with all that herby goodness!

4. Add the Cheese

After the pesto is spread out, it’s time for the cheese. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the pesto-covered chicken. Follow that with a generous sprinkling of grated Parmesan. This combination of cheeses creates a melt-in-your-mouth texture when baked, with the mozzarella turning gooey and the Parmesan adding a little crunch.

5. Roll-Up the Chicken

Now, it’s time to roll the chicken! Starting at one end, carefully roll the chicken up tightly like a burrito, securing all that cheese and pesto inside. If you need to, you can use toothpicks to secure the rolls. Be careful, though – you’ll want to remove these before serving!

6. Bake

In a large oven-safe skillet, heat up the olive oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, place the chicken roll-ups seam side down and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until they are lightly golden brown. This helps seal the chicken and gets that nice crispy edge. After both sides are browned, transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).

7. Rest and Serve

Once out of the oven, let the chicken roll-ups rest for 5-10 minutes. This helps the juices redistribute, making sure your chicken stays tender and juicy. Garnish with fresh basil before serving.