Chicken Pillows With Creamy Parmesan (Print version)
Buttery crescent dough bundles filled with seasoned chicken and topped with homemade parmesan cream sauce
# What you'll need:
→ Chicken Pillows
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
02 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 2 green onions, finely chopped
04 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
06 - Salt and pepper to taste
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
08 - 1 can (8 pieces) refrigerated crescent dough
09 - 1 tablespoon butter, melted
→ Creamy Parmesan Sauce
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
11 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
12 - 1 1/2 cups whole milk
13 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
16 - Pinch of nutmeg
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
# Method:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked chicken, softened cream cheese, green onions, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and parsley. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
03 - Unroll the crescent dough and separate into 8 triangles. Spoon an equal portion of the chicken mixture onto the wide end of each triangle.
04 - Roll up each triangle starting from the wide end, tucking in the sides to seal the filling inside and form a neat pillow shape.
05 - Place the pillows seam-side down on the prepared baking tray. Brush the tops evenly with melted butter for a golden finish.
06 - Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until the pillows are golden brown and cooked through.
07 - While the pillows bake, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk continuously for 1 minute to form a roux.
08 - Gradually pour in the whole milk while whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Continue cooking and whisking for 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
09 - Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg until smooth. Fold in the chopped parsley.
10 - Arrange the warm chicken pillows on plates and spoon the creamy Parmesan sauce generously over the top. Serve immediately.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- The filling stays incredibly moist inside that flaky crescent shell, almost like a surprise pocket of comfort.
- That Parmesan sauce is the kind of thing you will want to pour over everything, from pasta to roasted vegetables.
02 -
- Overfilling the triangles will cause them to burst open during baking, so use restraint even though you want to stuff them full.
- Adding the milk too quickly to the roux creates lumps that are nearly impossible to fix, so pour slowly and whisk with determination.
03 -
- Let the cream cheese come fully to room temperature before mixing or you will end up with cold lumps scattered through the filling.
- A pinch of nutmeg in the sauce is the secret that makes people ask what you did differently.