Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, Asparagus and Pistachio Pesto and Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken

Alright, I’ve got time to share one more tasty recipe that is just perfect for Father’s Day and dad is just going to go crazy for this bacon wrapped asparagus, asparagus and pistachio pesto and mozzarella stuffed chicken! Stuffing lean and juicy chicken with things is always fun and for this recipe I stuffed the chicken with asparagus spears, mozzarella and pesto for a full flavour extravaganza! Asparagus just screams summer and it really needs no explanation, I am always in for ooey, gooey, melted cheese and pesto is another ingredient that is amazing with fresh summer basil. I did not use just any pesto for this stuffed chicken, I went with an asparagus and basil pesto and instead of using the more standard pine nuts I went with creamy pistachios! I like to indulge my bacon addiction here by wrapping everything up is bacon but there’s a good reason for it here. I’m serious! Wrapping the chicken in bacon helps keep the chicken nice and moist and juicy, because chicken can get dried out when cooked on the grill. Really, it has nothing to do with all of that salty, smokey, crispy, bacon-y goodness! It’s to keep the chicken moist and juicy! Anyways, no matter how you look at it, dad is sure to flip over this bacon wrapped asparagus, asparagus and pistachio pesto and mozzarella stuffed chicken this Father’s Day, or any day; for dinner, lunch or even breakfast for that matter! Yum!!!

This goes great in a pistachio cream sauce!

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, Asparagus and Pistachio Pesto and Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken

Prep Time:10 minutes Cook Time:20 minutes Total Time:30 minutes Servings: 4

Crispy bacon wrapped chicken just stuffed full of asparagus, asparagus and pistachio pesto and oozy gooey melted mozzarella!

ingredients

4 (6 ounce) chicken breasts, butterflied or pounded thin
salt and pepper to taste
4 ounces mozzarella, sliced or shredded
8 spears asparagus, trimmed
4 tablespoons asparagus pistachio pesto (see below)
8 slices bacon

directions

Lay the chicken flat, season the outside with salt and pepper, spread 1/4 of the cheese, asparagus and 1 tablespoon of the asparagus pistachio pesto on the chicken chicken breasts, roll them up and wrap each in 2 slices of bacon
Grill over indirect medium heat, with the lid down, until the bacon is crispy and the chicken is cooked (160F to 165F), about 20-30 minutes, or bake in a preheated 400F/200C oven on a wire rack on a baking pan until cooked, about 20-30 minutes, turning the oven to broil for the last few minutes to ensure that the bacon is crispy.

Nutrition Facts: Calories 370, Fat 16.4g (Saturated 5.1g, Trans 0g), Cholesterol 123mg, Sodium 509mg, Carbs 3.8g (Fiber 1g, Sugars 2g), Protein 52g

Nutrition by:

Asparagus and Pistachio Pesto

Prep Time:10 minutes Cook Time:5 minutes Total Time:15 minutes Servings: 16(makes 1 cup or 16 1 tablespoon servings)

A light and fresh asparagus and basil pesto with pistachios!

ingredients

1/2 pound asparagus, blanched
1/2 cup basil
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup pistachios, toasted
1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 lemon, zest and juice
salt and pepper to taste

directions

Puree everything in a food processor until smooth.

Nutrition Facts: Calories 36, Fat 3g (Saturated 0.8g, Trans 0), Cholesterol 1mg, Sodium 13mg, Carbs 1g (Fiber 0.5g, Sugars 0.4g), Protein 1g

Nutrition by:

Pistachio Cream Sauce

Prep Time:10 minutes Cook Time:5 minutes Total Time:15 minutes Servings: 4(makes 1 cup or 4 1/4 cup servings)

A fresh and creamy pistachio sauce!

ingredients

1/2 cup pistachios
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter
1 clove garlic, grated
1/2 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated
1 tablespoon lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

directions

Toast the pistachios in a pan over medium heat until lightly golden brown and fragrant, transfer to a food processor or blender and grind to a fine powder, add the heavy cream and puree.
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
Add the pistachio cream and parmesan and simmer until it thickens a bit, about 2-3 minutes, before mixing in the lemon juice and seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition Facts: Calories 236, Fat 23.4g (Saturated 13g, Trans 0), Cholesterol 65mg, Sodium 153mg, Carbs 3.2g (Fiber 1g, Sugars 0.6g), Protein 6.3g

Nutrition by:

Yum

Comments

Maria says
June 17, 2016 at 1:58 pm
This is right up Josh's alley! A great Fathers Day dinner!
A SPICY PERSPECTIVE says
June 17, 2016 at 2:18 pm
Such savory goodness! Prefect for a father's day meal!
Jenny says
June 17, 2016 at 2:44 pm
Great looking Father's Day meal! Love this!!!
Heather Christo says
June 17, 2016 at 7:45 pm
I bet this is SO delicious!
Kilyena says
June 19, 2016 at 3:03 am
Jeez, I'm gonna have to have a separate cook book just for your recipes I have made so many of them, including the Bacon wrapped Jalapeno Popper stuffed Chicken and the Bacon wrapped Guacamole Stuffed Chicken. They were both delicious! I'm looking forward to making this one soon!