This is a wonderful, super simple and easy recipe to make. It is one of my picks for the recipe swap I am in I always love recipes that are simple and taste great. I added lots of pesto to the stuffing as well as to the outside of the chicken as I love pesto. The chicken comes out wonderfully tender with oozing melted mozzarella in the middle, it is wonderful. I baked mine as it was pouring here and I could not fire up the grill I will look forward to grilling it next time. I served mine with carrot rosti topped with a dill cumin sauce and it was very yummy. If you would like to see my carrot rosti recipe please click here. If you would like to see the original recipe for the chicken mozzarella click here.

Ingredients

NOTE: I used more pesto than stated as I put lots on the inside and out and my chicken breasts were quite large, so took more mozzarella than listed.

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2 cup pesto sauce (you can use store bought or use your favorite homemade.)
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (small perlini mozzarella balls work best,you can use larger mozzarella, just cut it down into small pieces.)
1/2 cup roasted red pepper, sliced

Method

1. Pre-heat grill to high heat.

2. Oil grill with light coat of oil (for charcoal oil before heating).

3. Rinse chicken;pat dry.

4. With sharp knife, cut a pocket deep lengthwise into the edge of each chicken breast. be careful not to cut all the way through.

5. Season chicken with pepper.

6. Spread 1 tablespoon pesto into each pocket.

7. Fill each pocket with 1/4 of mozzarella balls and 1/4 of the red pepper slices.

8. Spread remaining pesto over outside of chicken breasts to give it a light, even coating.

9. Lay chicken on oil grill. Close lid.

10.Cook until browned on bottom (about 7 minutes).

11. Turn and continue cooking until browned on other side and no longer pink in center; about 7 minutes longer (carefully cut to test).

12. Serve hot with some crusty bread, a tossed green salad, and fresh fruit.

All photos taken by me unless otherwise stated.