Decadent Chicken Pillows Garlic (Printable)

Tender chicken and creamy cheeses wrapped in flaky dough with garlic Parmesan sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 - ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Garnish

11 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, blend shredded chicken, cream cheese, mozzarella, garlic powder, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper until completely combined.
03 - Unroll crescent roll dough and separate into 8 individual triangles.
04 - Spoon chicken mixture onto the wide end of each triangle. Fold dough over filling and pinch edges securely to seal, forming pillow shapes.
05 - Place chicken pillows on prepared baking sheet with even spacing between each pillow.
06 - In a small bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, and grated Parmesan cheese.
07 - Brush the top of each pillow generously with garlic Parmesan mixture using a pastry brush.
08 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown and puffed.
09 - Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
10 - Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks restaurant-fancy but honestly requires less than 15 minutes of actual hands-on work.
  • The combination of melted cheese and garlic butter creates this addictive, crispy-outside-creamy-inside texture that people can't stop eating.
  • You can prep the filling ahead and assemble everything minutes before baking, making it perfect for unexpected guests.
02 -
  • The filling must be made with softened cream cheese, not cold—cold cream cheese won't blend smoothly and you'll end up with lumpy texture that's disappointing when you bite in.
  • Fresh garlic in the sauce is non-negotiable; jarred garlic tastes flat and won't give you that buttery aromatic finish that makes people ask for seconds.
  • If your pillows are browning too quickly but still look doughy, tent them loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.
03 -
  • If you're doubling this recipe for a crowd, work with one package of dough at a time so it stays cold and manageable—it makes a real difference in texture.
  • A pastry brush with natural bristles applies the garlic Parmesan sauce more evenly than silicone and lets you feel when you've coated each pillow properly.
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