These Marry Me Chicken Roll Ups Are Kind Of Genius

Take a spin on a new favorite: "Marry Me Chicken" is most commonly chicken breasts in a tomatoey cream sauce, fortified with savory sun-dried tomatoes, but this recipe is a twist on the viral original.

For Marry Me Chicken Roll Ups, chicken breast is, well, rolled up with sun-dried tomatoes, cheese, and genoa salami, which is reminiscent of rolled chicken cordon bleu, but leans into those tangy, umami-rich flavors.

Learn how to make Marry Me Chicken Roll Ups. Served over angel hair pasta, these chicken rolls are are an impressive and classic comfort food.

Ingredients for Marry Me Chicken Roll Ups

The ingredients for Marry Me Chicken Roll Ups don't stray very far from Marry Me Chicken Casserole or Marry Me Chicken Soup, which are also delicious, but a few special ingredients set it apart: bright lemon zest, goat cheese, and the added delight of genoa salami, which fills up the roll ups. This recipe is also served over angel hair pasta, for the ultimate comfort meal.

• Sun-dried tomatoes in oil: These bring an intense, savory tomato flavor that's smoky but also tangy, bright and even a hint sweet. If you can't find julienne-cut sun-dried tomatoes, do not fret! You can simply cut or slice whole ones, which are also available jarred in oil. You'll be chopping them up anyway.
• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: Chicken breasts are pounded out to an even thickness to ensure an easy process of "rolling up" and even cooking. It's best to select the smallest breasts you can find (around 8 oz.) but that can be tricky sometimes. If you want to skip this step, you can opt for chicken cutlets instead, but be advised your roll ups may be slightly smaller.
• Kosher salt: Season the chicken to keep it tender and balance the savory flavors.
• Genoa salami: Adds some heat, spice, and richness to complement the hearty chicken.
• Shredded mozzarella cheese: Adds extra flavor and gooey cheese to make the dish ultimately cheesy and cozy.
• Grated parmesan cheese: Brings a nutty, savory cheese flavor.
• Lemon zest: Brightens up the filling of the "roll."
• Yellow onion: Builds some oniony, sharp flavor to the sauce.
• Dried Italian seasoning, black pepper, and crushed red pepper: Together, these spices provide the kick of heat and seasonings to make the iconic "Marry Me" flavors sing.
• Marinara sauce and lower-sodium chicken stock: These are the base of the tomato sauce. Use your favorite marinara sauce variety.
• Heavy whipping cream: Thickens up the creamy sauce and balances the sharp tang of the tomato flavors.
• Goat cheese: Many "Marry Me" recipes call for cream cheese, but this soft cheese is extra creamy and decadent and pairs well with the salami and elevated elements of this recipe.
• Cooked angel hair pasta: Because what's not to love about juicy, creamy, tomatoey chicken dish over fine pasta?
• Fresh basil: For some freshness and classic herbal aroma.
  

How To Make Marry Me Chicken Roll Ups

The complete directions are below, but here are the basic steps to get you started. The trickiest part of the recipe is preparing the chicken for filling, rolling up, and cooking within its shape, so we share a little extra detail on that process here:

• Step 1. Prepare the chicken. Arrange chicken breasts on a cutting board and carefully use a very sharp knife to slice them in half horizontally, one-by-one, without cutting all the way through. This is "butterflying" the chicken breast. Open the chicken up like a book, cover the chicken with plastic wrap, and use a meat mallet to pound the chicken to an even thickness (not too hard—you don't want to tear holes in the meat).
  
• Step 2. Add the filling to your chicken. Remove the plastic wrap from the chicken, and sprinkle evenly with salt. Arrange salami over the chicken, then mozzarella, Parmesan, lemon zest, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
• Step 3. Roll the chicken. Roll each breast up as tightly as you can—but not so tight that the filling oozes out. Tie using kitchen twine in 1-inch intervals, and sprinkle with salt.
• Step 4. Cook chicken. Heat oil from the sun-dried tomatoes in a large skillet. Arrange roll-ups in an even layer and cook, turning occasionally, until firmed up, sealed, and nicely browned. Transfer to a plate to rest while you build your sauce.
• Step 5. Build sauce. Add remaining sun-dried tomato oil, onion, seasonings, and remaining sun-dried tomatoes to skillet. Cook until the onion is soft, then add marinara and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer to allow the flavors to bubble and meld.
• Step 6. Assemble and bake. Remove the kitchen twine once your chicken roll-ups have cooled. Stir cream into the tomato mixture, and then add roll-ups back into the sauce. Sprinkle with goat cheese and transfer to the oven until chicken is cooked all the way through (use an instant-read thermometer to check temps). Slice and serve over pasta, and divide sauce among bowls. Garnish with basil as you wish.
  

Our Tips for Making Marry Me Chicken Roll Ups

This recipe has several steps to it, but it's hugely rewarding. The good news is, there are a lot of hacks to make it easier. Here are some helpful tips for making Marry Me Chicken Roll Ups:

• Meat matters: While it's important to pound the chicken out to an even thickness more or less, avoid going overboard. Use mild force, and be careful not to tear through the chicken.
• Mallet swap: If you don't have a meat mallet to pound the chicken, you can use a heavy bottom saucepan or a rolling pin—just remember to cover the chicken with plastic wrap before doing so to keep things food safe.
• Smooth out: For the best browning or searing results, use the smooth side of the chicken breast on the outside, so the scraggly part of the chicken is in the interior of the roll up.
  
• All tied up: Tying the chicken with twine is important to keep things tight and rolled together, but don't tie too tight. You just want to keep the chicken from unrolling while cooking.
• Temp check: An instant read thermometer is the key to cooking your chicken to the perfect temp, but be sure you are temping the actual chicken and not just the filling. If in doubt, slip the tip of the thermometer about halfway through the roll, to ensure it's accurate.

What To Serve With Marry Me Chicken Roll Ups

With a creamy sauce and an extra cheesy filling, you don't need a lot to complete these chicken rolls. Just be sure to serve over pasta—we like angel hair pasta. You can skip the pasta and use sop up the sauce with bread if you want. Finish out the meal with a simple side salad or roasted vegetables, and it'll surely be a family favorite after first bites.