Pollo Ripieno: Italian Stuffed Roast Chicken with Sausage, Spinach & Cheese

Pollo Ripieno is Italy’s answer to the ultimate comfort roast—juicy chicken stuffed with savory sausage, wilted greens, aromatic herbs, and melted cheese. This dish is as impressive to serve as it is satisfying to eat. Whether you’re entertaining or just treating yourself to something special, this one’s guaranteed to draw applause (and maybe a few “Mamma mia!”s).

🥕 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)

For the Chicken:

1 whole chicken (about 4–5 lbs), deboned (ask your butcher, or do it yourself if you’re bold!)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil for brushing

For the Stuffing:

8 oz Italian sausage, casings removed
1 cup spinach (fresh or thawed frozen, well-drained)
1 cup shredded mozzarella or provolone cheese
¼ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1 garlic clove, minced
1 egg (to bind)
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Pinch of nutmeg (optional)

🍲 Instructions

Make the Stuffing:

In a bowl, mix sausage, spinach, cheeses, garlic, egg, parsley, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Mix well until evenly combined.

Prepare the Chicken:

Lay the deboned chicken skin-side down on a cutting board.
Spread stuffing evenly over the meat.
Roll the chicken up tightly, keeping the skin on the outside.
Tie with butcher’s twine at intervals to secure the roll.

Season & Roast:

Brush the chicken with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Place in a roasting pan seam-side down.

Cook:

Roast in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 60–75 minutes, or until internal temp reaches 165°F.
Let rest 10–15 minutes before slicing.

Serve:

Slice into medallions to reveal the beautiful stuffing. Serve with roasted potatoes or sautéed greens.

📦 Amazon Must-Haves for Pollo Ripieno

🔪 Boning Knife or Butcher’s Knife Set – For DIY deboning (or fine carving).
🧵 Butcher’s Twine & Poultry Needles – Keep that chicken neatly rolled and roasting evenly.
🧀 Shredded Provolone or Mozzarella – Melty goodness for the perfect stuffing.
🌿 Fresh Italian Parsley or Dried Herb Kit – Brightens up the rich filling.
🍳 Nonstick Mixing Bowls – Great for stuffing prep.
🌡️ Digital Meat Thermometer – Perfect doneness every time.

Pro Tip: If deboning a chicken feels intimidating, you can make individual portions by stuffing and rolling chicken breasts instead!