Decadent Chicken Pillows Garlic (Printable)

Tender chicken and cheeses wrapped in flaky dough, topped with garlic Parmesan sauce for an indulgent main dish.

# Components:

→ Filling

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
02 - 1 cup cream cheese, softened
03 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
06 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Dough

07 - 1 package refrigerated crescent roll dough, 8-count

→ Garlic Parmesan Sauce

08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Garnish

11 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine shredded chicken, softened cream cheese, mozzarella, garlic powder, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix until well blended.
03 - Unroll crescent roll dough and separate into 8 individual triangles.
04 - Place approximately one spoonful of chicken mixture onto the wide end of each dough triangle. Fold the dough over the filling and pinch edges firmly to seal, forming pillow shapes.
05 - Place filled pillows on prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly with adequate air circulation.
06 - In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, minced garlic, and grated Parmesan cheese.
07 - Using a pastry brush, generously coat the top surface of each pillow with the garlic Parmesan mixture.
08 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until pillows are golden brown and puffed.
09 - Remove from oven and allow pillows to cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
10 - Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They look impressively restaurant-worthy but honestly take less time than ordering takeout.
  • The filling is forgiving—it works with rotisserie chicken if you're short on time, making this a weeknight lifesaver.
  • That garlic Parmesan sauce transforms simple crescent rolls into something genuinely crave-worthy.
02 -
  • Keep the crescent dough cold right up until you use it—warm dough tears easily and won't puff properly in the oven, which I learned the hard way the first time I let it sit on the counter too long.
  • Don't overstuff the pillows; a generous spoonful is plenty because the filling expands as it heats and can burst through weak seals if you overdo it.
03 -
  • Brush the pillows with the garlic Parmesan mixture while they're hot from the oven so it melts slightly into the crevices rather than just sitting on top.
  • If you want them even more decadent, sprinkle a tiny bit of extra grated Parmesan over the tops right as they come out of the oven before the butter cools.
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