Pesto Chicken Garlic Bread Boats (Print Version)

Golden baguette boats filled with savory pesto chicken and gooey mozzarella, baked until crispy and bubbly.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread

01 - 2 large baguettes or Italian loaves
02 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

→ Chicken & Filling

05 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
06 - 1/3 cup basil pesto
07 - 1/2 cup sour cream
08 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Cheese

11 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Slice the baguettes in half lengthwise. Using your fingers or a spoon, gently hollow out the center of each half, leaving about 1/2 inch of bread on all sides to form a boat shape.
03 - In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with minced garlic and chopped parsley. Spread the mixture evenly over the inside of each bread boat.
04 - In a separate bowl, combine the shredded chicken, pesto, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and salt. Mix until well blended.
05 - Spoon the chicken mixture evenly into the hollowed bread boats. Top generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.
06 - Arrange the filled bread boats on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the bread is golden brown.
07 - Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, then slice into portions and serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They look fancy enough to serve at a dinner party but come together in under 40 minutes, which means you can stop pretending to be stressed.
  • The combination of crispy bread, creamy pesto filling, and melted mozzarella hits every texture and flavor craving at once.
  • You can make them ahead, refrigerate, and bake when guests arrive, turning what could be chaos into pure calm.
02 -
  • Don't skip the scooping step or try to use the boats whole—they really do need that hollow center, or you'll end up with bread that's too dense and filling that doesn't distribute evenly.
  • If your bread boats feel flimsy after hollowing, they're probably from a loaf that was too soft to begin with; look for bread with a thicker, crustier exterior next time.
03 -
  • Buy a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store—it's a secret weapon that eliminates cooking time and adds flavor that homemade often can't match.
  • Don't skimp on the mozzarella or use pre-shredded cheese with anti-caking agents; whole milk mozzarella that you shred yourself melts into actual silk.
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