Olive Garden Stuffed Chicken Parmigiana

By á-3974

Need I say more? Olive Garden, great, tasty Italian food for the whole family. My family loves this super easy and Delish recipe. COOKS NOTES: Leftover cheese filling may be kept in refrigerator for 2 weeks or frozen up to 3 months. Also makes good filling for manicotti. If using flat cookie sheet...be sure to form a "rim" so that melted shortening doesn't run off.
Using foil helps with clean up:)NOTE: This is an adopted recipe and now that I have tried it myself I can only say: full credit to the previous owner for a wonderful recipe, I am lucky indeed to have become Mama to this one. Enjoy :)

Ingredients

• 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of all fat
• 2 cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 egg white
• 1 (15 -16 ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 1 (3 ounce) can kraft romano cheese
• 1 1/2 cups kraft parmesan cheese (may use any brand)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 (12 ounce) jar pasta sauce (marinara style sauce)
• 1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine
• 1/4 cup Crisco or 1/4 cup shortening
• fresh grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Details

Servings 1
Preparation time 20mins
Cooking time 50mins
Adapted from food.com

Preparation

Step 1

1 Wash chicken breasts, do not dry, and slit lengthwise, almost through -- to make a pocket.
2 Combine ricotta, Romano, Parmesan, basil, thyme and oregano in mixing bowl. It will be crumbly.
3 Stuff into pocket of chicken, leaving a small "edge" to seal. Using egg white, rub around edge and pinch to seal. Or may use toothpicks, but be sure to remove before serving.
4 Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and melt butter and Crisco in oven at 350 degrees -- about 5 minutes.
5 Dredge wet chicken in breadcrumbs, coating well, and place on baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
6 Turn chicken and bake another 15 to 20 minutes.
7 While baking, heat pasta sauce until hot. Remove chicken from oven and spoon hot pasta sauce over each.
8 Before serving, top with grated, fresh Parmesan cheese, if desired.