Easy Chicken Bread Recipe
This delicious chicken bread recipe requires little effort. It's excellent for hectic evenings when you need a satisfying meal.
Equipment
- Oven – To bake the chicken bread.
- Baking Sheet – To place the rolled dough.
- Parchment Paper – For lining the baking sheet.
- Rolling Pin – To roll out the dough.
- Knife – For chopping ingredients like onions, bell peppers, and chicken.
- Cutting Board – To chop vegetables and chicken.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons – To measure out ingredients like oil, salt, pepper, and cheese.
- Brush – For applying egg wash to the dough.
- Mixing Bowl – To combine the chicken filling ingredients.
- Fork or Spoon – To stir the chicken filling and mix it with seasonings.
Ingredients
Prepare Bread Dough:
- 2 ½ cups Flour All-purpose or whole wheat
- 2 ¼ teaspoons Active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup Warm water 110°F (for activating yeast)
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil Or use butter if preferred
Chicken Filling:
- 2 cups Cooked chicken Shredded or diced, leftover rotisserie or cooked chicken breast
- 1 ½ cups Cheese Mozzarella or Cheddar, shredded
- 1 small Onion Diced
- 1 optional Bell pepper Diced, optional
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 2 tablespoons Mayonnaise Optional for added creaminess
- 1 tablespoon Fresh parsley Chopped, optional for garnish
Marinate (Optional for Chicken):
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 2 cloves Garlic Minced
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- to taste as needed Salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon Herbs (thyme or rosemary)
To Cook Chicken:
- 2 breasts Chicken Boneless, skinless
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- to taste as needed Salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
To Assemble:
- 1 batch Bread dough Prepared from earlier step
- as prepared as needed Chicken filling As per earlier instructions
- 1 egg Egg wash Beaten with 1 tablespoon of water
Instructions
Make Dough
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare the dough by either using store-bought dough or making your own. If making your own dough, mix the flour, yeast, sugar, salt, water, and olive oil, and knead until smooth. Let it rise for about an hour until doubled in size.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about half an inch thick.
Cook chicken filling
- Cook the chicken: In a pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chicken breasts and cook for about 7-8 minutes per side until fully cooked and no longer pink inside.
- Shred or dice the chicken once it's cooked. If using leftover rotisserie chicken, shred it directly.
- Prepare the filling: In a bowl, combine the shredded chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. If desired, sauté onions and bell peppers for extra flavor, and add them to the chicken mixture.
- Optional marinate: If you have time, marinate the chicken filling in the seasonings for 30 minutes for a deeper flavor.
Assemble
- Place the rolled dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Spread the chicken mixture evenly over the dough, leaving about a half-inch border around the edges.
- Sprinkle cheese (mozzarella or your choice) over the chicken filling.
- Roll up the dough: Carefully roll the dough into a log shape, tucking in the edges as you go. Make sure the seam is facing down.
- Apply egg wash: Brush the top of the dough roll with a beaten egg for a golden, shiny crust.
Bake
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and the filling is hot.
- Check for doneness: The bread should be golden and slightly puffed up. The internal temperature of the bread can be checked, and it should be around 190°F (88°C) when done.
Notes
- To Store: The bread keeps well in the fridge for 2 days. For the best taste, reheat it in an oven or air fryer.
- Yeast: I used instant yeast that comes in a sachet and doesn't require proofing. If your yeast requires proofing, start with sugar and a little water. Let it rest for 10 minutes. If your yeast rises and gets frothy, it is good to use in the recipe. If not, discard it and use fresh yeast. Then, make the dough using this yeast and the remaining dough ingredients.
- Chicken: You can also use shredded chicken for the recipe. Just reduce the salt and shorten the cooking time for the chicken.
- Milk: Knead the dough with lukewarm milk. Hot milk kills the yeast and prevents it from rising.
- Spice Level: The bread is mildly spiced. If you desire more heat, you can add extra chilies.
- Air-frying: For a crispy texture, air fry in a preheated air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for 15 minutes.