There’s nothing quite like the aroma of something golden and delicious baking in the oven to make a house feel like a home. These Chicken Pillows with Creamy Parmesan Sauce are the epitome of comfort food, wrapping a savory, creamy chicken filling inside a tender pastry shell, all bathed in a luscious parmesan sauce. It’s a dish that feels special enough for a Sunday supper, yet is surprisingly simple to bring together on a weeknight.

This recipe takes me right back to my mom, Eva’s, kitchen. She believed the best meals were simple and made with love. These creamy pillows, made so easy with crescent dough, are a perfect tribute to her warm, comforting philosophy in every single delicious bite.

A Few Reasons This Recipe Is So Special

Effortless Elegance: This Chicken Pillows Recipe uses store-bought puff pastry or crescent roll dough for a quick yet impressive meal.
Creamy & Comforting: The filling, made with cream cheese and finely chopped chicken, is rich and satisfying.
Versatile Dish: Perfect for a family dinner, a special occasion, or even as a delightful appetizer.
Flavorful Sauce: The Creamy Parmesan Sauce is simple to prepare and adds a luxurious finishing touch.

Everything You’ll Need for This Cozy Dish

For the Chicken Pillows:

3 cups cooked chicken, finely chopped
6 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sour cream
2 green onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 sheets puff pastry (or 2 tubes crescent dough), chilled
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon chopped parsley (plus extra to finish)

For the Creamy Parmesan Sauce:

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Pinch lemon zest (optional)
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Bringing These Little Pockets of Joy to Life

Warming the Kitchen & Making the Filling

First things first, let’s get that oven warming up to 400°F (200°C). Go ahead and line a sheet pan with parchment paper for easy cleanup. In a medium bowl, combine your chopped chicken, softened cream cheese, sour cream, green onions, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix it all together until it’s beautifully combined.

Crafting Each Pillow with Care

Now for the fun part! Cut your puff pastry into 8 squares, or if you’re using crescent dough, separate it into triangles. Place about 1/4 cup of the chicken mixture onto each piece of dough. Carefully fold the corners over the filling, pinching the seams to create a sealed little pillow. Place them seam-side down on your prepared pan.

Adding That Golden, Crispy Touch

Gently brush the tops of your pillows with the melted butter. This will help them get that lovely golden color. Then, sprinkle them with panko breadcrumbs and a little chopped parsley. I like to give them a light press to make sure the crumbs stick.

Baking to Golden Perfection

Slide the pan into your preheated oven and bake for 18–22 minutes. You’re looking for a deep golden brown color and a wonderfully crisp top. Once they’re done, let them rest for about 5 minutes.

Whipping Up a Dreamy Parmesan Sauce

While the pillows are baking, you can whip up the delicious Parmesan Sauce. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat and sauté the garlic for about 30 seconds until it’s fragrant. Whisk in the flour and let it cook for another minute.

Simmering to Silky Smoothness

Slowly whisk in the chicken broth, followed by the heavy cream. Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it has thickened slightly.

The Final Flavorful Flourish

Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the grated Parmesan, Dijon mustard, a pinch of lemon zest (if you’re using it), salt, and pepper until everything is smooth and creamy. If the sauce seems a bit too thick, you can add a splash of chicken broth to loosen it up.

Gathering Everyone to the Table

To serve, nestle the warm Chicken Pillows in a dish and pour that beautiful sauce all around them. A final sprinkle of fresh parsley adds a touch of color. Be sure to serve them right away to enjoy that delightful contrast between the crisp top and the creamy sauce.

Close-up of baked Chicken Pillows With Creamy Parmesan Sauce, cream cheese stuffed crescent rolls, golden tops, rich parmesan sauce, family comfort food

A Quick Note on Nutrition

Please note that the nutritional information provided is an estimate and can vary based on the specific ingredients and portion sizes you use.

A Few Lighter Touches, If You Like

Lighter Pastry: For a less rich option, you can use a single layer of phyllo dough, lightly brushed with olive oil, instead of puff pastry or crescent dough.
Greek Yogurt Swap: Substitute the sour cream and a portion of the cream cheese in the filling with plain Greek yogurt for a lighter, tangier flavor.
Veggie Boost: Finely chopped spinach or mushrooms can be added to the chicken filling to increase the vegetable content of the dish.

How We Love to Serve Them at Our Table

Serve these Chicken Pillows alongside a fresh green salad with a simple vinaigrette to balance the richness of the sauce.
Steamed green beans or roasted broccoli would make a wonderful and simple side dish.
For a heartier meal, they can be served over a bed of fluffy mashed potatoes or rice to soak up every last drop of the creamy sauce.

A Little Wisdom from Mom’s Kitchen

Don’t Overstuff: Be careful not to overstuff your pastry pillows, as this can cause them to burst open while baking.
Seal Them Tight: Ensure the seams of your pillows are well-sealed to prevent the delicious filling from leaking out.
Watch the Sauce: Keep a close eye on your sauce and remove it from the heat as soon as the cheese is melted to prevent it from becoming grainy.

Keeping Leftovers for Another Day

If you have any leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to enjoy them again, I recommend reheating them in the oven to help the pastry crisp up. You can also freeze the unbaked pillows for a future meal; just bake them from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

From My Kitchen to Yours

I hope this recipe for Chicken Pillows with Creamy Parmesan Sauce brings as much joy to your table as it does to mine. It’s a wonderful dish for creating new memories with the ones you love. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and enjoy the simple pleasure of a home-cooked meal.

Your Questions, Answered with a Smile

Can I get a head start on the filling?

Yes, you can prepare the chicken filling up to 48 hours in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This can be a great time-saver for a busy weeknight.

Can I get creative with the cheese?

While Parmesan is classic for this sauce, you could certainly experiment with other hard, flavorful cheeses like Asiago or Romano for a slightly different taste.

What’s the secret to reheating them perfectly?

To get the pastry nice and crisp again, I recommend reheating the chicken pillows in a 350°F oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.

Chicken Pillows With Creamy Parmesan Sauce

Author: Sarah
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 8 servings 1x

Print Recipe

Description

These Chicken Pillows with Creamy Parmesan Sauce are comfort food at its finest—savory chicken and cream cheese wrapped in pastry, baked golden, and finished with a luscious parmesan sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

3 cups cooked chicken, finely chopped
6 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sour cream
2 green onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 sheets puff pastry (or 2 tubes crescent dough), chilled
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon chopped parsley (plus extra to finish)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Pinch lemon zest (optional)
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
Mix chicken, cream cheese, sour cream, onions, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until well combined.
Cut puff pastry into 8 squares or separate crescent dough. Add 1/4 cup filling to each piece, fold, and seal into pillows. Place seam-side down on sheet.
Brush tops with melted butter, sprinkle with panko and parsley, then lightly press to stick.
Bake 18–22 minutes until golden brown and crisp. Rest 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan, sauté garlic 30 seconds, then whisk in flour and cook 1 minute.
Slowly whisk in broth and cream. Simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
Remove from heat, whisk in Parmesan, Dijon, zest, salt, and pepper until smooth. Add extra broth if too thick.
Serve pillows with sauce poured around, garnish with parsley, and enjoy warm.

Notes

Do not overstuff the pillows and ensure seams are well sealed. Reheat leftovers in the oven for crispness. Sauce should be removed from heat as soon as cheese melts to prevent graininess.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Baked
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 pillow with sauce
Calories: 480
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 720mg
Fat: 31g
Saturated Fat: 15g
Unsaturated Fat: 14g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 24g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 26g
Cholesterol: 105mg

Keywords: chicken pillows, parmesan sauce, creamy chicken, comfort food, baked chicken