Deliciously Elegant Pesto Chicken Crepes: A Flavorful Twist on a Classic Favorite
Pesto Chicken Crepes are a delightful, savory dish that offers a harmonious balance of flavors, textures, and colors. Whether you’re preparing it for a special holiday gathering, a casual dinner with friends, or a cozy family meal, this recipe is sure to impress. The tender, juicy pesto chicken, melted Fontina cheese, and caramelized onions wrapped in delicate crepes make for a dish that is as visually appealing as it is delicious. Topped with a vibrant red pepper coulis and garnished with fresh basil, the entire dish becomes a celebration of flavors, making every bite a memorable experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course, Dinner, Lunch, Holiday Dish, Festive Recipe
- Method: Baking, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American, French-inspired
Ingredients
- Savory Crepes: The foundation of this dish is the crepe. Savory crepes are delicate and tender, providing a subtle canvas for the flavorful filling. You can make them from scratch, but if you’re short on time, store-bought crepes are a convenient alternative. The key to perfect crepes is a light hand when cooking them so that they remain soft and pliable, making it easier to roll them with the filling inside.
- Cooked Chicken: For the chicken filling, you’ll need cooked chicken that’s chopped into bite-sized pieces. This can be leftover rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken breasts, or even poached chicken. The chicken acts as the primary protein in the dish, and its mild flavor pairs perfectly with the bold pesto and cheese. The chicken is coated in the pesto and combined with cheese, creating a creamy, savory mixture that makes every bite irresistible.
- Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is used to sauté the onions and garlic, providing a smooth, fruity base for the filling. It’s also a healthier fat option that contributes richness without being overly greasy. Olive oil is a great complement to the other Mediterranean-inspired flavors in the dish, particularly the basil pesto.
- White Onion: The white onion adds a natural sweetness and savory depth to the filling. When sautéed with the garlic in olive oil, it becomes tender and fragrant, releasing its sugars and mellowing out its sharpness. The caramelized onions are a great balance to the rich pesto and creamy cheese.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is an essential ingredient in this dish, adding a pungent, aromatic flavor that enhances the overall complexity of the filling. Garlic is known for its ability to pair well with both chicken and pesto, giving the dish a robust flavor profile that is both savory and aromatic.
- Basil Pesto: The pesto is the star of the show, providing a fresh, herbaceous flavor that elevates the chicken and cheese filling. Made with fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, pesto is a quintessential Italian sauce that brings brightness and depth to the dish. You can use store-bought pesto if you’re short on time, but making your own will add an extra layer of freshness and customization to the dish.
- Fontina Cheese: Fontina cheese is a semi-soft cheese known for its creamy texture and mild, nutty flavor. It melts beautifully, making it the perfect choice for this dish. As it bakes, the Fontina adds a gooey, comforting element to the filling, while its mild flavor doesn’t overwhelm the other ingredients. If you can’t find Fontina, you can substitute it with mozzarella or Gruyère for similar meltability.
- Kosher Salt: A pinch of kosher salt is essential for seasoning the chicken mixture. Salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients, ensuring that the dish is well-balanced and not too bland. Be sure to taste the filling before assembling the crepes to make sure it’s seasoned to your liking.
- Red Pepper Coulis: The red pepper coulis adds a pop of color and a tangy-sweet contrast to the richness of the filling. This sauce is made by blending roasted red peppers with a little bit of olive oil and fresh basil, resulting in a smooth, flavorful sauce that can be drizzled over the finished crepes. It adds an element of brightness and acidity that cuts through the richness of the cheese and pesto chicken.
- Fresh Basil: Fresh basil is used as a garnish to finish the dish. Its bright, aromatic flavor complements the pesto filling and adds a fresh note to each bite. The basil also enhances the visual appeal of the dish, providing a pop of green color against the golden crepes.
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken Filling
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This will ensure that your crepes bake evenly and crisp up on the edges when you pop them in the oven later.
In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic and sauté for about 5-7 minutes, or until the onions become soft and translucent, and the garlic is fragrant. The combination of garlic and onion will form the flavor base for your filling, providing a savory and aromatic foundation.
Once the onion and garlic are cooked, transfer them to a mixing bowl. To this, add the cooked, chopped chicken, basil pesto, and shredded Fontina cheese. Stir everything together until well combined. The pesto should coat the chicken and cheese, creating a creamy, flavorful mixture that is ready to be stuffed into your crepes.
Step 2: Assemble the Crepes
Lay out your crepes on a flat surface, one at a time. Spoon about 1/12th of the chicken mixture down the center of each crepe. Be careful not to overfill, as the crepes need to be able to roll up without spilling the filling. Once the filling is in place, carefully roll up the crepe, tucking in the sides as you go. Place the rolled crepes seam-side down in a greased 13×9-inch baking dish. Repeat the process with the remaining crepes and filling, placing them side by side in the baking dish. If necessary, use a second baking dish to accommodate all of the crepes.
Step 3: Bake the Crepes
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the crepes are golden brown and the filling is bubbly. The edges of the crepes will become crispy, creating a delightful contrast to the creamy filling inside. Once they are baked to perfection, remove the crepes from the oven.
Step 4: Prepare the Red Pepper Coulis
While the crepes are baking, you can prepare the red pepper coulis. This step is quick and easy—simply blend the roasted red peppers with olive oil and fresh basil until smooth. The coulis should be slightly thick but pourable. If it’s too thick, you can add a little water to adjust the consistency.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Once the crepes are out of the oven, drizzle them with the red pepper coulis and garnish with fresh basil. The red pepper coulis adds a burst of color and a slightly sweet, tangy flavor that perfectly complements the richness of the pesto chicken filling. Serve the crepes warm, and enjoy the balance of creamy, savory, and fresh flavors.
Notes
- Vegetarian Version: If you’re looking to make a vegetarian version of this dish, simply swap the chicken for sautéed mushrooms or a mixture of roasted vegetables. You could also use ricotta cheese in place of Fontina for a creamy, dairy-based filling.
- Gluten-Free Option: If you’re following a gluten-free diet, you can make gluten-free crepes using a gluten-free flour blend. Be sure to check that all other ingredients are certified gluten-free as well.
- Cheese Substitutes: If you don’t have Fontina cheese, you can use mozzarella for a milder flavor or Gruyère for a nuttier taste. Goat cheese or blue cheese can also be used for a bolder flavor.
- Make-Ahead: This dish is perfect for meal prepping. You can assemble the crepes and refrigerate them until you’re ready to bake. The red pepper coulis can also be made ahead and stored in the fridge for several days.