The Creamiest Chicken Valdostana Recipe for Cozy Dinners

Nestled in the alpine valleys of Italy, chicken Valdostana brings hearty mountain flavors to your kitchen.

Creamy fontina cheese melts luxuriously over tender chicken breasts.

Regional ingredients from the Valle d’Aosta region create a stunning dish that feels like a culinary journey.

Robust ham adds a salty punch to each delectable bite.

Simplicity defines this elegant meal, where a few carefully selected components sing together harmoniously.

Layers of rich, comforting textures promise to transport you straight to the Italian countryside.

Let this recipe become your next delicious adventure.

Chicken Valdostana That Brings Creamy Italian Richness

• Quick Kitchen Win: Whip up this gourmet Italian dish in under an hour, perfect for busy home cooks craving restaurant-quality meals without complex techniques.
• Family-Friendly Favorite: Crispy golden chicken topped with prosciutto and melted fontina cheese creates an irresistible flavor combination that pleases both kids and adults.
• Versatile Dinner Option: Adapts seamlessly from weeknight dinners to special occasions, elevating simple ingredients into an impressive main course that looks and tastes sophisticated.
• Minimal Ingredient Magic: Requires just a few high-quality ingredients, making it an accessible recipe for home cooks with limited pantry resources and cooking skills.

Chicken Valdostana Ingredients

• Chicken Breast: A tender cut perfect for absorbing flavors, best when fresh and evenly thick for consistent cooking.

• Fontina Cheese, Parmesan Cheese: Classic Alpine cheeses that provide rich, nutty melting qualities unique to Valdostan cuisine.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates a light, crispy exterior that helps seal in chicken's moisture.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the chicken's natural flavor profile.
• Eggs: Helps flour adhere to chicken and creates a golden, delicate coating.

• Butter, Olive Oil: Combination provides rich flavor and prevents sticking while ensuring even browning.

• Prosciutto: Adds a delicate, salty dimension typical in Italian mountain cooking.
• Fresh Thyme: Brings subtle herbal notes that complement the rich cheese and meat.

• White Wine: Deglazes pan and adds depth to the sauce, traditional in Italian cooking.

Chicken Valdostana Cooking Directions

Step 1: Butterfly The Chicken Breast

Carefully slice the chicken breast horizontally, creating a thin, even cutlet that opens like a book.

This technique helps the chicken cook evenly and allows for better flavor absorption.

Step 2: Pound And Tenderize

Place the butterflied chicken between plastic wrap and gently pound with a meat mallet until the chicken is uniformly thin.

This ensures quick and consistent cooking while creating a tender texture.

Step 3: Season The Chicken

Sprinkle salt and black pepper generously over both sides of the chicken, creating a foundational layer of flavor that will complement the rich ingredients to come.

Step 4: Prepare Prosciutto And Cheese

• Thin slices of prosciutto
• Fontina cheese
• Fresh sage leaves

Arrange these ingredients near your work surface for easy assembly.

Step 5: Layer The Ingredients

Lay out the seasoned chicken and carefully drape prosciutto slices across the surface.

Top the prosciutto with thin sheets of fontina cheese and delicate sage leaves, creating a luxurious flavor combination.

Step 6: Roll And Secure

Gently roll the chicken, tucking in the sides to keep the prosciutto and cheese contained.

Use toothpicks or kitchen twine to secure the rolled chicken, preventing the filling from falling out during cooking.

Step 7: Dredge In Flour

Lightly coat the rolled chicken in all-purpose flour, creating a thin, even layer that will help develop a beautiful golden crust when seared.

Step 8: Sear To Golden Perfection

Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat.

Carefully place the rolled chicken in the pan, searing each side until a rich, golden-brown color develops, creating a crispy exterior.

Step 9: Finish In The Oven

Transfer the skillet to a preheated oven and bake until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

This ensures the chicken remains juicy while allowing the flavors to meld together.

Step 10: Rest And Slice

Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5-7 minutes.

This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring each slice is moist and flavorful.

Remove toothpicks or twine before slicing and serving.

Chicken Prep Tips for Valdostana Classic

• Use a meat mallet to flatten chicken breasts evenly, ensuring consistent cooking and tender texture.
• Choose high-quality fontina cheese for authentic flavor, as it melts beautifully and provides rich, creamy taste.
• Toast breadcrumbs lightly before coating to enhance crunchiness and add depth of flavor to the dish.
• Cook chicken at medium-high heat to achieve golden-brown crust without burning the exterior while keeping the inside juicy.
• Layer thin prosciutto slices carefully to create a delicate, savory element that complements the chicken's richness.

Chicken Valdostana Storage Instructions

• Store leftover Chicken Valdostana in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe bags, preserving the dish for up to 2 months.
• Preheat to 350°F, cover chicken with foil to prevent drying, and warm for 15-20 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• Place chicken on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals, checking to avoid overcooking.

What Complements Chicken Valdostana

• Pair with Crisp Alpine White Wine: Select a refreshing Valdostana white like Petite Arvine that complements the creamy, rich cheese and delicate chicken flavors with its bright, mineral notes.
• Create Rustic Potato Side Dish: Roast herb-infused potato wedges seasoned with rosemary and thyme to match the mountain-inspired regional ingredients and provide a hearty accompaniment to the chicken.
• Enhance with Tangy Arugula Salad: Dress peppery arugula with lemon vinaigrette and shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano to cut through the dish's richness and add a fresh, zesty counterpoint.
• Match with Smooth Red Wine Alternative: Choose a light-bodied Pinot Noir from Valle d'Aosta that offers subtle red fruit undertones and gentle tannins to balance the cheese and chicken without overwhelming the delicate flavors.

Chicken Valdostana Italian Takes

• Gluten-Free Swap: Replace traditional flour breading with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs to create a celiac-friendly version of this classic Italian dish.
• Low-Carb Alternative: Substitute chicken breasts with thinly sliced turkey cutlets and use crushed pork rinds instead of breadcrumbs for a keto-friendly adaptation.
• Vegetarian Transformation: Swap chicken with portobello mushrooms or thick slices of eggplant, maintaining the cheese and prosciutto layering technique for a plant-based interpretation.
• Dairy-Free Option: Use dairy-free cheese alternatives like nutritional yeast or cashew-based cheese to accommodate lactose-intolerant diners while preserving the original recipe's rich flavor profile.

FAQs

• What is Chicken Valdostana originally from?

Chicken Valdostana comes from the Valle d’Aosta region in northwestern Italy, known for its Alpine cuisine and rich dairy products.

• What cheese is traditionally used in this dish?

Fontina cheese, a local specialty from Valle d’Aosta, is the authentic cheese used in this classic recipe, providing a creamy and distinctive flavor.

• How does the breading process work for this recipe?

Chicken breasts are typically dredged in flour, dipped in beaten eggs, then coated with breadcrumbs to create a crispy, golden exterior before cooking.

• Why is this dish considered special in Italian cuisine?

The combination of tender chicken, melted Fontina cheese, and a crispy breaded coating represents the hearty and flavorful mountain cooking style of northern Italy.

Chicken Valdostana Recipe

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4.8 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x

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Description

Succulent chicken valdostana brings Alpine charm directly from Italy’s mountainous Valle d’Aosta region, blending rich fontina cheese with golden-crusted chicken. Delicate layers of prosciutto and melted cheese create a harmonious symphony of flavors you’ll savor with each delightful bite.

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Ingredients

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Protein:

• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (halved and pounded to 0.5 inches/1.27 centimeters thickness)
• 4 slices prosciutto

Cheese:

• 4 slices fontina cheese (or mozzarella/Gruyere)

Liquids and Seasonings:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 0.5 cup dry white wine (Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc)
• 0.5 cup chicken broth
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Trim excess fat from chicken breasts and gently pound them to an even thickness using a meat mallet, ensuring uniform cooking.
2. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and freshly ground black pepper, creating a foundational flavor profile.
3. Dredge each chicken breast thoroughly in flour, shaking off excess to create a light, even coating that will crisp beautifully during cooking.
4. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high temperature, creating a rich, flavorful cooking medium.
5. Carefully place floured chicken breasts into the hot pan, allowing them to develop a golden-brown crust without overcrowding the skillet.
6. Cook chicken for approximately 4-5 minutes per side until a crisp, appetizing exterior forms and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
7. Remove chicken from skillet and transfer to a warm serving platter, keeping the meat tender and warm.
8. In the same skillet, deglaze with white wine, scraping up the flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
9. Add prosciutto and sage leaves to the pan, creating a fragrant and savory sauce that complements the chicken.
10. Layer thin slices of fontina cheese atop each chicken breast, allowing the cheese to melt luxuriously from the residual heat.
11. Optional: Place the cheese-topped chicken under a broiler for 1-2 minutes to achieve a perfectly golden and bubbling cheese surface.
12. Garnish with additional fresh sage leaves and serve immediately, presenting a classic Valdostana dish bursting with alpine-inspired flavors.

Notes

• Pound chicken breasts evenly to ensure uniform cooking and tenderness, which helps the meat absorb flavors more effectively.
• Choose high-quality prosciutto for authentic flavor and better texture, preferably imported Italian prosciutto for a truly traditional taste.
• Select fontina cheese from Valle d’Aosta region if possible, as it provides the most authentic and richest flavor profile for this classic dish.
• Consider tenderizing meat with a meat mallet or rolling pin to create consistent thickness, preventing uneven cooking and dry spots.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2
• Calories: 572
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 1060 mg
• Fat: 38 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 23 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 7 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 43 g
• Cholesterol: 127 mg