My local butcher sells a really yummy spinach, cream cheese and bacon chicken roll wrapped in puff pastry, it is very yummy, but pricey and not so healthy. I love buying things like these that I can purchase, pop in the oven for 30 minutes, make a few veges and dinner is done, a simple meal, but being that I am on my weight loss mission I’m trying to find healthier alternatives. And… I have always looked at the butchers chicken rolls thinking I can make it myself. So I gave it a go….
It didn’t take very long at all to prepare, about 10 minutes. But the key to this meal is to prepare it around 3pm so that you can put it in the freezer to set for 2 hours then pop in the oven to cook for another 45 minutes. It tasted delicious and was ubber healthy.
The chicken roll wasn’t really browned on the outside, next time I might brown it in a frypan before adding into the oven.
Spinach Chicken Roll
Prep Time | Cook Time | Total Time |
15 mins | 55 mins | 1 hour 10 mins |
- 800g chicken breast
- pepper
- 200g low fat cream cheese
- 150g fresh spinach
Instructions
- Mince the chicken breast with some sprinkles of pepper in a food processor
- Lay out a large piece of cling wrap on a baking sheet
- Spread chicken evenly onto cling wrap in a rectangle, till 5-7mm thick.
- Spread cream cheese over chicken then lay spinach on top
- Start rolling the chicken from the longest side using the cling wrap to hold it all together. Roll tightly. Remove the cling wrap as you are rolling as you don’t want this wrapped up with the chicken
- When the roll is complete tightly wrap it in cling wrap and place in the freezer for 1.5-2 hours to help it hold its shape while cooking
- Remove cling wrap, place on baking tray and cook in a preheated 180C oven for approx 45-55 minutes
- Check that centre is cooked, depending how thick you made the roll it may need longer cooking time.
By Kat – The Organised Housewife
21 comments
instead of browning in the pan, you could spray with oil and sprinkle some seasoning over the top too! or roll in buttered bread crumbs.
Looks amazing. Perhaps throw in some garlic and onion into the cream cheese too. I’m going to have to try this too. Thank you.
My mouth is watering that sounds delicious Ally!
yum that looks delicious!
I made something similar a few weeks ago without the cream cheese, but instead of a roll I make it in a loaf tin like a meatloaf. I put prosciutto in the base, then half filled with chicken breast mince, then a layer of garlicky baby spinach, then more chicken mince. It was great. I served it withc pureed roasted capsicum, next time I’ll probably put a layer of roasted capsicum in it.
I just realised after seeing my picture, I also put sauteed mushrooms and leek in it.
How long do you bake it for Gayle? The same sort of timing as Kat, 40-45 mins at 180?
Thanks, R.
My 9yo daughter helps me make something similar but we take thin slices of chicken breast, spread cream cheese in the middle, add some apricots (canned or dried, we’ve even put craisins and macadamias in the middle) roll up the breast then wrap it in a folded sheet of filo pastry and bake at 180 for 15-20mins. We make enough for a couple of meals and freeze the others. The pastry round the outside is a favourite in this house and much lower in fat content than puff pastry (although I made them with puff the other day and the kids loved them)
that sounds really good Penny!
This looks amazing. I have already meal planned this wk but I think I am going to have to try this next wk!
P.s. We have the same food processor
meandmyreadymadefamily.blogspot.com
Wow, love all these ideas and variations…will try them all. ps have the same processor :).
This processor was a wedding present, given to us 13 years ago
Hmmm yum! That looks so delicious! I knew my family wouldn’t eat that though, so I made my own version of this (closer to what you said the original was like) and my family thought it was awesome!!!! I blogged about it on my blog. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Nicole x
http://houseofnicnax.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-not-so-healthy-chicken-cheese-and.html
Have you made this a week in advanced and just left it in the freezer before?
Do you need to defrost before baking or do you bake straight from the freezer?
Hi lucy, i bake it first then freeze it.
Kat, what did you serve this with? Gonna make it for dinner tonight and can’t decide! 🙂
Hi K-Lee, it is really yummy with a side salad or even a few veggies on the side would be nice too.
I’ve made this twice now, second time I added some sautéed mushrooms and toasted pine nuts – I put them between the cream chees and spinach – delicious!
Ooh i love pine nuts, what a great idea i must try that next time, thanks Lyn.:)
You could try brushing an egg wash over it to brown it up in the oven. Definitely going to make this myself.