If you're looking for the perfect meal for your next dinner party, learn how to cook prosciutto wrapped chicken! It's a gorgeous, crowd-pleasing dish that comes together with minimal effort!
Why You'll Love This Dinner Party Worthy Dinner
Prosciutto elevates any ingredient to the next level. These prosciutto-wrapped chicken breasts are one of my favorite recipes for entertaining because they're seriously eye-catching yet easy to make.
Plus, this easy meal is full of great flavors like savory prosciutto ham and a creamy, cheesy leek sauce that coats every bite of the prosciutto chicken.
What is Proscuitto?
In Italian, prosciutto translates to "ham." The prosciutto we know is a specific type of Italian cured ham made following protected regional guidelines. It has a salty, umami flavor and tastes like the fanciest bacon.
Prosciutto is sold in thin slices, which can be used to wrap vegetables, meats, and even fresh melon and fruits. Just be sure to check the type of prosciutto you're using. Prosciutto cotto is cooked and can be eaten as-is, whereas crudo is raw and needs to be cooked first. Either kind of prosciutto will work for this wrapped chicken breast recipe.
Prosciutto vs Parma Ham
To most people, prosciutto and Parma ham are the same thing. To be called Prosciutto di Parma, the cured ham must be made in Parma, Italy, with strict regional standards.
On the other hand, prosciutto refers to any Italian cured ham, including Parma ham. Many people lump non-Italian cured meats under this label, too. Learn more about the different types of prosciutto here.
Proscuitto Wrapped Chicken Ingredients
Chicken breasts - Choose boneless skinless chicken breasts. You'll need to slice them in half across the middle.
Proscuitto slices - If you can't find slices of prosciutto, you can use Parma ham, jamon serrano, or sliced ham.
Seasoning - Create a blend of salt, black pepper, and dried oregano to season chicken.
Leek Sauce Ingredients
Yellow onion - This sauce has three onion relatives, giving it a delicious savory flavor.
Leeks - These tender plants have a mild onion flavor that pairs perfectly with salty prosciutto.
Garlic - Fresh garlic becomes slightly sweet after sauteeing and adds excellent flavor to this great recipe.
Olive oil - Use extra virgin olive oil to draw out the flavors of the onion, leeks, and garlic.
Parsley - Chop some fresh parsley for a pop of color and a subtle herbal flavor.
Parmesan - Salty parmesan pairs perfectly with prosciutto. If you can't find it, try using asiago or pecorino romano instead.
Whole milk - Milk is the base of this creamy sauce. I prefer whole milk, but 2% works, too.
Salt - Add a pinch of kosher salt to bring out the flavor of all your ingredients.
How to Make Wrapped Chicken Breasts
- Take the chicken breasts and carefully cut them in half to make two thin pieces (slice like you are butterflying the chicken and cut all the way through)
- Season both sides of the chicken with a few tablespoon of olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano. Let sit for 10 minutes.
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken for 1-2 minutes on each side. Do this in batches.
- Remove the chicken and wrap the chicken with a slice of prosciutto.
- Return the chicken to the large pan and cook for an additional 4 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165.
- Let the chicken rest while you make the sauce.
- Pour the sauce into a 9x13 baking dish and top with the prosciutto wrapped chicken. Broil for 2-3 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Creamy Parmesan Leek Sauce for Chicken
- In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the 2 tablespoon olive oil.
- Add the leeks, onions, and garlic. Saute for 3-5 minutes.
- Sprinkle with salt and stir in the parsley.
- Reduce the heat and add the parmesan cheese and milk. Stir until combined and cheese is fully melted.
Pro tip: Make the sauce the day before your party to give yourself extra time for your side dishes.
What to Serve with Proscuitto Wrapped Chicken and Parmesan Leek Sauce
This chicken wrapped in parma ham is a delicious dinner for your next party or date night! It tastes great with roasted cherry tomatoes, sauteed green beans, or roasted potatoes with fresh rosemary. Serve white wine and a large fresh salad:
How to Tell When Chicken is Done Cooking?
If you're wondering how long to cook chicken wrapped in proscuitto, the cooking time will vary depending on your oven and the size of your chicken breast. The best way to tell when chicken is done cooking is to use a meat thermometer. The instant-read thermometer should show an internal temperature of 165 degrees F at the thickest part of the chicken.
FAQs
Can I use bacon instead of prosciutto?
Although bacon is a prosciutto substitute, it's not a good swap for this chicken with prosciutto. The bacon will need more time to render all of the fat to avoid becoming chewy. Use another cured meat like Parma ham or even sliced ham instead.
Can I use thighs in prosciutto wrapped chicken?
Boneless skinless thighs are a great swap for chicken breast in this chicken prosciutto recipe. I don't recommend using chicken thighs with the skin on as they won't have time to crisp up, and the bones will cause the chicken to take longer to cook. If you have the time, you can debone chicken thighs yourself.
More 30 Minute Chicken Recipes
If you like this chicken recipe, check out these other easy recipes!
- Rosemary White Wine Chicken Skillet
- One Pot Chicken Gnocchi Bake
- Cauliflower Chicken Alfredo Sauce
- Cranberry Orange Chicken
- Hot Honey Mustard & Peach Glazed Chicken Thighs
Delicious Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken With Parmesan Leek Sauce
Equipment
- 1 sheet tray
- 2 skillets
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 8 oz proscuitto slices
- 2 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- Leek Sauce
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 2 leeks thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup parsley chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan
- 1 cup whole milk or 2% works
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Take the chicken breasts and carefully cut them in half to make two thin pieces (slice like you are butterflying the chicken and cut all the way through)
- Sprinkle with a few tablespoon of olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano. Let sit for 10 minutes.
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium high heat and sear the chicken for 1-2 minutes on each side, do this in batches.
- Remove the chicken and wrap the chicken with the thinly sliced prosciutto.
- Place the chicken on a sheet tray and finish the cooking process by baking at 350 for 20 minutes.
- While this cooks, make the sauce. In a skillet over medium heat, heat the 2 tablespoon olive oil.
- Add the leeks, onions, and garlic. Saute for 3-5 minutes.
- Sprinkle with salt and stir in the parsley.
- Reduce the heat and add the parmesan cheese and milk. Stir until combined and cheese is fully melted. Cover and set aside until the chicken is done.
- Plate the dish by scooping the sauce onto the plate first then topping with a chicken breast.
- Enjoy!
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