Cheese Tortilla Crusted Chicken Rolls with Asparagus! I used Nacho Cheese Doritos, which add a salty and crispy crust to the outside of the chicken with a hint of cheesy flavor. You can use any tortilla chips! The Chicken stays moist and juicy rolled up and you get this fresh bite of freshness in the center with the Asparagus.
Turn your tortilla chips into crumbs by either placing them in a bag and smashing them with a rolling pin or placing them in a food processor and pulsing them. You are looking for a panko breadcrumb-like size and texture. Store them in a plastic bag.
Prepare the chicken breasts by first placing a large piece of plastic wrap down on the counter. Then place your chicken breast on top. Using a sharp knife, gently slice through the side. As you slice, pull up the top half so you can see where you need to go and do not slice the top right off. Do this for all 4 breasts
Note, you want to be sure you have full breasts, not pre-sliced thin, as they may not be big enough to roll. Opening up and pounding out your own ensures they are large enough.
Next place another piece of plastic wrap over the top of the chicken breasts. Using a meat tenderizer or the bottom of a large bowl, gently pound our the chicken breasts to get them even and as flat and thin as possible without pounding through creating holes. Place the chicken in a large plastic storage bag.
Cut the woody ends off the asparagus, but wait to wash them until you are ready to cook.
That's it! place the tortilla crumbs, the Chicken, the Asparagus, plus one unbroken egg on a sheet pan or large bowl in the fridge until the night you are ready to cook.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a sheet pan with Extra Virgin Olive Oil or brush on 1 tsp.
Rinse the asparagus and set aside.
Lay the chicken breasts out on a flat surface. Season both sides with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Then place 4-5 spears of asparagus on the chicken off to one side as you will be rolling starting from that side.
Roll the asparagus up in the chicken and then secure the end with 3-4 toothpicks.
Beat an egg in a large bowl (big enough to fit your chicken rolls). In a second large bowl or on a plate, place the crushed tortilla chips. Take a chicken roll and coat it in the egg.
Shake the excess egg off, then roll it in the tortilla crumbs to full coat the chicken (you do not need to coat the asparagus). Then place the chicken on the oiled sheet pan.
Do this for each of the 4 chicken breasts. Once all are on the sheet pan, spray or very gently brush with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, then bake in the 400 degree oven for 15 minutes on the center rack. Flip the Chicken over and then bake for a second 15 minutes.
After a total of 30 minutes in the oven, remove the chicken and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice for the beautiful presentation and serve over salad or rice or quinoa. ENJOY!