Twist on a Favorite: Chicken Bacon Caesar Stromboli

Remember these? Chicken Bacon Caesar Calzones?

I know that many of you tried them and loved them. SO, when I altered the recipe slightly last week to make a more party-friendly version, I brought my camera along so I could show you how to do it.

The calzone version is wonderful - especially for family dinners. BUT, if you need to make a whole bunch of it for a crowd, it would be quite laborious.

SO, I created a stromboli version - using frozen bread dough - that can be doubled, tripled, quadrupled to serve anywhere from 4 to 40 people.

I love cheese. Forever and ever.

We love it this way - soft, chewy bread with a bit of crunch thanks to toasted sesame seeds - but, still the flavor combinations we love inside.

Here's how to make it:

Buy one bag of frozen bread dough. (Three frozen loaves come in one bag. I bought Rhodes brand. You can buy white or whole wheat.)

Allow bread to rise according to package directions.

Punch risen dough down and place on a floured surface.

Using a rolling pin, roll out dough into a 15" by 8" rectangle. (Make sure to really roll it out thin.)

Place the filling down the center of the dough.

And, top with cheese.

Pull the bread dough up and over the filling and tuck it underneath the filling. (I had to do this one-handed since I had a camera in the other hand, but this picture gives you the idea of how to start it.)

Pull the other side up and over to seal the filling in.

Then, tuck the ends under, pressing to seal with your fingers.

Flip the stromboli over and onto a greased baking sheet. (The crease down the middle and the ends will be sealed underneath.)

Using a pastry brush, brush on an egg wash.

And, sprinkle the top with sesame seeds.

Next, using a knife, score the dough as you work your way down, about 2 inches apart. (This will give you a guide after the stromboli bakes so that you know right where to slice it.)

Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Slice and serve.

Yeah, man. This is some good eats.

With the Super Bowl right around the corner, this would be a GREAT dish to serve or take with you to a party. You could make one loaf, or ten! It's so easy to put together, and it'll be the hit of the party.

Enjoy!

Chicken Bacon Caesar Stromboli

One loaf frozen white bread dough
2 chicken breasts, roasted and chopped
8 slices of bacon, fried and crumbled
1 cup Cardini's Caesar dressing
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
4 ounces Mozzarella cheese
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 egg plus one tablespoon water
2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Allow bread dough to thaw and rise, according to package directions. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine chicken, crumbled bacon, dressing, Parmesan Cheese, and pepper in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Punch down bread dough and roll out into rounds on a floured surface into an 15" x 8" rectangle.

Place the filling down the center of the dough. Top filling with Mozzarella cheese. Pull the bread dough up and over the filling and tuck it underneath the filling. Pull the other side over and seal the ends. Flip stromboli over onto greased baking sheet.

Brush with egg wash and sprinkle top with sesame seeds. Using a knife, score down the length of the stromboli about 2 inches apart.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven, slice, and serve.

Yield: One loaf makes about 10 slices.