Get ready to impress with a dish that's bursting with flavor! These Juicy Chicken Rolls with Bacon in Orange Sauce are the perfect combination of savory, sweet, and tangy. Tender chicken thighs are filled with sweet peppers and scallions, wrapped in crispy bacon, and smothered in a vibrant orange sauce. While it looks and tastes like a gourmet meal from a fancy restaurant, this recipe is surprisingly straightforward, making it ideal for a special occasion or even a luxurious weeknight dinner.
Juicy chicken rolls with bacon in orange sauce
Ingredients for Juicy Chicken Rolls with Bacon in Orange Sauce
- 500 g chicken (boneless, skinless chicken thighs)
- 1 bell pepper
- 2-3 scallions (green onions)
- 1 orange
- 170 g smoked bacon
- 1 sprig of rosemary
- 1 clove of garlic
- 50 ml apple cider or dry white wine
- salt, pepper, paprika
- refined vegetable oil
- pomegranate seeds and parsley for garnish
How to Make Juicy Chicken Rolls with Bacon in Orange Sauce
Marinate the chicken. Flatten the thigh meat on a cutting board, cover with plastic wrap, and lightly pound it with the side of your hand. Season the meat with salt, pepper, and sweet paprika, add rosemary leaves, press a garlic clove through a press, and squeeze the juice from half an orange. Place the chicken in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. The meat can be left in this marinade overnight; it will only become more flavorful.
Marinating the chicken
For the filling of one chicken roll, you will need 2-3 scallions and an equal number of long slices of sweet bell pepper. Sauté the white parts of the scallion stems and the bell pepper strips in vegetable oil for 3-4 minutes.
Sautéing the light part of the scallion stems and strips of bell pepper
Place the sautéed vegetables on the meat, roughly in the middle of the piece.
Placing the sautéed vegetables on the meat
Carefully and tightly roll up the chicken so that the vegetables are in the center of the roll.
Slice smoked or cooked-smoked bacon very thinly; the slices should be almost transparent and flexible. If you can’t slice it this thinly yourself, it’s best to ask the butcher at the store to slice the bacon on a slicer. Wrap each roll with several overlapping strips of bacon.
Now, this whole construction needs to be secured. You can pierce them with wooden skewers. However, there is always a risk that the skewers won’t hold the rolls together during frying and they will open up, so it’s better to tie them with string. If you have kitchen twine, that’s great. If not, use a sturdy linen thread or regular white cotton threads (fold thin cotton thread several times). Tightly tie the chicken rolls with the string, securing the end or tying a knot.
Rolling the chicken so the vegetables are in the middle of the roll
Wrapping each roll with several overlapping strips of bacon
Tying the rolls tightly with string and securing the end
Lightly oil a frying pan with refined vegetable oil and heat it up. Place the chicken rolls on the hot pan and fry until golden brown on each side. Once the meat is browned, squeeze the juice from the other half of the orange over it, pour in apple cider or dry white wine, and let it reduce over high heat for a few minutes. Finish cooking the rolls in a preheated oven at 170°C (340°F) for 5 minutes.
Frying the rolls until golden brown and cooking until done
The juicy chicken rolls with bacon are ready. Place them on a plate, drizzle with the sauce formed during cooking, sprinkle with pomegranate seeds, and garnish with fresh herbs.
Juicy chicken rolls with bacon in orange sauce are ready
And there you have it—a stunning dish that’s sure to become a new favorite! Serve these delicious chicken rolls hot, drizzled with the pan sauce. They pair beautifully with creamy mashed potatoes, fluffy rice, or roasted asparagus. Don't forget the final flourish of pomegranate seeds and fresh parsley for a pop of color and freshness. We hope you enjoy making and sharing this wonderful meal. Happy cooking!
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