When I was a senior in high school, two of my favorite actors made a movie together called, “Seems Like Old Times”, that came out in December of 1980! I loved that movie!! It stars Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase, and the writers, directors, and producers of the movie couldn’t have picked a better pair to play the roles! It’s a wacky, zany movie, with heartfelt moments, and just what you’d expect from these two equally adorable actors! I don’t want to tell you too much that happens in the movie, and spoil it for you if you’ve never seen it, (I hate it when people do that!) But, I do need to explain a little about the dish parts so that you understand what “Aurora’s Chicken Pepperoni” means! This was one very special dish! 😉
You see, it was the Governor of the State of California’s favorite dish! It’s a spicy recipe prepared by the housekeeper, “Aurora”, (a spicy, feisty woman herself that I also adored!), and her “Chicken Pepperoni” was the favorite of the “Governor’s” (played by George Grizzard) and requested at a very important dinner, and if it wasn’t served, “Ira” (Goldie’s second husband played by Charles Grodin) might not make Attorney General, but “Aurora” (played by Yvonne Wilder) had to have her feet scraped, so “Glenda”, “Ira’s” wife, had to try and make it herself but couldn’t read Spanish and….if she made “Veal Parmesan” her husband might not get elected! Soooooo, (taking a breath), “Glenda”, (played by Goldie), attempts to make this dish, ….I know, what I’ve said makes no sense, but I’ve told you too much already and don’t want to give everything away, so you’ll just have to watch the movie! But anyways, I’ve always been intrigued about this “Chicken Pepperoni” dish thing ever since the very first of 100’s of times that I’ve watched and enjoyed this movie!
After Googling, there really isn’t any actual-factual recipe for it. At least not as far as I could find out. There are several websites that claim the recipe they have posted is the one from the movie, but every “authentic” (cough) website’s “authentic” (cough-cough) recipe is completely different. So I think that it was just part of the script, a quickly-made prop for the set, and it’s up to one’s own imagination of what it must’ve tasted like!
There are a few dozen interpretations of the recipe out there, but they all seem to be of the same general direction. Basically, “Chicken Parmesan” with pepperoni added in.
Hmm. After careful thought, I really don’t think that that’s all that “special”….do you?? Not to knock anyone’s recipe. Not at all!! They all sounded perfectly fine and I’m sure that they’re all VERY delicious, actually! Even Rachael Ray did her own Italian-style version that looked wonderful! But it’s just not the direction that I ever envisioned. “That don’t look like no decorator Chicken Pepperoni I ever seen…”, is probably what “Aurora” herself would say! 😉
My own personal take on the whole idea, is based on the fact that the character, “Aurora”, happens to be hispanic. I doubt that if she were real, her dish would be so simple as “classic Italian” with some chopped pepperoni tossed into it. See what I mean? It just doesn’t sound right, nor would it be anything so extraordinary that a Governor would request it.
So, I set out to create my very own version, as I had always imagined it, adding in some heat with south-of-the-border spices that just seemed to make more sense to me, and what I personally always thought that the dish might taste like! 🙂
So, I started by searing and browning some pounded and seasoned chicken breasts in some butter and oil, then removed them from the pan and covered them…
…then started building my sauce, starting with, of course, whole pepperoni cut into matchsticks. It wouldn’t be chicken pepperoni without the pepperoni, right? 😉
I removed the hot pan from the heat, leaving the oil and butter in there, (don’t drain it!), and deglazed the pan with “Chester’s” contribution to the dish…
…I added the “infamous wine” that had the Governor saying, that the dish had a little, ahem, “extra flavor” this time… 😉 But, I did notice a small mistake in a lot of the recipes posted, and that was the addition of white wine. In the movie, “Chester”, (one of the many troubled kids and misdemeanor “criminals” that “Glenda” – a public defender – was helping to defend in court and find jobs for whom she hired herself to chauffeur and “play butler” that evening to serve the Chicken Pepperoni to the Governor but got plastered in the kitchen when he was supposed to be stirring the sauce), was drinking red wine. Not white, as you can see here!
So, I removed the pan from the heat (for safety’s sake – – I’m a messy cook*), added the red wine, and scraped up the yummy chicken bits. I then added and sautéed some sweet red cubanelle peppers from my garden, along with some onion, garlic powder, oregano and italian seasoning in the butter and oil left in the pan from the chicken. (Uhm, did I mention that this whole dish is made using just one pan and one pot for the pasta?! Always a PLUS in my books!!)
*Please, always be careful adding wine to a screaming hot pan. I LOVE this part, but be prepared for it to furiously boil and steam at first. I think it’s cool as hell, but it does scare some people. Removing it from any flames will prevent flare-ups and stove fires from igniting the wine if you spill it, so don’t worry. It’s safe and fun!! Just move it over to a cool spot on the stove. You’ll be FINE. It’s only a 1/4 of a cup, so it’s very minimal.
Then, just move it back to the heat and sauté for 5 minutes, adding the pepperoni matchsticks during the last minute of cooking time. Easy-peasy!
Next, in went all of the tomatoes, along with another round of herbs and some heat from a nice gathering of spices!!
By the time I was done…my kitchen looked like “Glenda’s”. So, I figured I was on the right track!!
I simmered the sauce for a bit while I preheated the oven, then nestled the chicken down into the sauce and popped the whole pan into the oven to bake and finish the chicken!
After baking, I topped each piece of chicken with lots and lots, (a whole pound!!), of yummy shredded mozzarella and provolone cheese!!!! I gave it a quick sprinkle of dried parsley and popped this baby back into the oven on low broil to melt!
Hot out of the oven!! OH, yea!!
Now THIS is more like what I had in mind!!!
Seriously!! How gorgeous is this??
Because “Chester” was passed out drunk in the kitchen, “Glenda’s” first husband, “Nick”, (played by Chevy Chase who happened to be in a LOT of trouble himself and was seeking help from his ex-wife, “Glenda”), ended up serving the Chicken Pepperoni to the Governor despite the fact that he was a wanted criminal and could jeopardize “Ira’s” chances of becoming Attorney General and land all three of them in jail for bank robbery and harboring a fugitive and…oops…
…ok, I hope that I haven’t given away too much, and that this dish and small bits ‘n hints of this crazy-funny, romantic comedy plot has captured your attention and heart enough to watch the movie, and, of course, serve this for dinner! Even if the Governor isn’t coming!
It really turned out fantastic in my opinion, as well as my hubby’s! He LOVED it! It’s got some spice to it, and a nice little kick of heat in the back, too!!! Just as I had imagined and hoped for! And the chicken turned out very tender and very moist! I served this with a mixture of angel hair and thin spaghetti (what I had on hand), and the pasta really loved the sauce with the chicken and being twirled together with all that yummy cheese!! A spicy romance in itself!
So, make this your date night in, “Dinner and a Movie” this weekend!
You’re going to LOVE them both!! 🙂
~♥~
~♥~
Serve this with a glass of red wine, a nice tossed salad
with one of my homemade salad dressings,
and some toasted garlic bread
for sopping any last drop of that spicy sauce!
♥ And don’t forget to light the candles. ♥
Enjoy!!
Disclaimer: This is just my own interpretation and recipe for “Aurora’s Chicken Pepperoni” based on the movie “Seems Like Old Times”, and not the actual dish served on the movie set, which was most likely a simple “prop dish” provided by the same local catering company hired to feed the actors and crews.
I bet it wasn’t as good as mine, though. 😉
I paired this dish with angel hair and thin spaghetti (what I had on hand) topped with extra sauce, and it was immensely enjoyed with bites of the chicken all twirled together with the yummy cheese!
Aurora's Chicken Pepperoni!
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Serve with a tossed salad and one of my homemade dressings, and some toasted garlic bread for an incredibly romantic date night in dinner!
Just thought I’d tell you that you are making me crazy…Anybody that FORCES me to make chicken pepperoni for a house full of guests is making me crazy and YOU…are making me crazy!!! 🙂 thank you for the recipe….ALso, absolutely LOVE the photo of Aurora “that don’t look like no decorator I ever seen”….classic. Will be trying this very soon.
I’m watching it now on Sony Crackle which prompted me to look up the ingredients online. Love the movie. One of my faves. Thanks for the recipe.
Love that movie, and years ago came up with a pepperoni sauce. Was reading through your recipe. BUT as an Italian/Mexican cook the LAST thing I would put in the sauce is Chipotle powder or dried red Chile pepper, maybe some red Chile flakes but for a slight different layer of flavor BUT that would be all. Except for that chipotle, your recipe is more on the Sicilian side. Just saying Ciao
Sorry, but I completely disagree based on the fact that chipotle peppers are from Mexico and are primarily used in Mexican cooking. My recipe is also in NO way “Sicilian” at all. But much more Mexican, staying true to what the character, “Aurora De La Hoya”, would’ve cooked. Just saying! Adios!
I actually watching Seems Like Old Times right now. I also own the movie. I remember watching it as a child as well and always wondered of Aurora’s Chicken Pepperoni! Thank you for sharing!
I’ve always wondered if such a dish existed and because like the creator of this particular dish, it does and I can’t wait for a cooler fall evening to make this. Watching the movie again for the I can’t remember how many times had me turn to Pinterest to validate this recipe. We too love this movie and I still remember vividly going to the theater to watch it. The opening song makes me feel 20 years old all over again. I’m looking forward to making this dish and sharing it with the man who took me to see this adorable movie. We weren’t yet married but eventually we did and by the grace of God and a lot of hard work we still are married.
Here’s to the woman who took a recipe from a favorite and very special movie and put life into it.
Thank you for this! I too LOVE this movie & cast! I watched tonight & stumbled onto your terrific take on Aurora’s chicken
Thank you so much for writing this! I LOVED this movie. I wasn’t even born yet when it came out, but I watched it as a kid and still remember all the scenes you described. Absolutely hilarious! I think there was also a scene where Chevy’s character ate cold fried chicken straight from the fridge, and I remember copying him as a kid, and I thought it actually tasted pretty good. And yes, Aurora’s Chicken Pepperoni was something that stuck in my head and I always wondered what it would taste like. Now I know! 🙂 Awesome post!
This is brilliant! You clearly love the movie and I enjoyed reading your food-focused review. I’m gonna try to make this recipe soon. And I need to buy the dvd so I can watch while eating. It’s the ultimate “dinner and a movie” date. It would be so funny to make the chicken for someone who has never seen the movie but not tell them anything about it.
Wow I can’t believe I’m not the only one that “pepperoni chicken” had stuck into my psyche through all these years. I was a kid in the 80’s and the thought of “pepperoni chicken” just always intrigued me… I always wondered how heavily this dish could taste. This is an amazing blog post for all of us who remember this. You white people had it great then.
How long does it take to scrape feet?? Longer than it takes to make chicken pepperoni. Lol one of my all-time favorite movies and just happened to think today I wonder if chicken pepperoni is a real recipe! Thank you!
That movie is EXACTLY the reason I searched for Chicken Pepperoni in Pinterest.
Thank you so much for coming up worth this recipe because I need chicken pepperoni and I need it bad. I’ll have to wait until after the holidays are over though because I can’t cook whenI’m crazy and the holidays are making me crazy!
I see that’s a couple ingredients “repeat”, I.e. the garlic powder…Is this intentional?? I am about to make this dish for supper tonight and want to get it absolutely correct
Yes, the ingredients are to be repeated. Added in stages. Hope you all enjoy! 🙂
As soon as I finished watching this iconic movie,I looked up chicken pepperoni and after skimming over a few mediocre recipes was immediately drawn to your site.Simply splendid is the way you’ve coherently used logic and sagacity to construct what would merely be a fictitious dish. Aurora would surely be proud and impressed !
Neil Simon died today and this is the first thing I wanted to look at.
Awww, thank you, Javier!! 🙂
Oh my gosh! I have been thinking the same thing for years! LOVE this movie and was always searching for the perfect Pepperoni Chicken recipe. I completely agree, I was always intrigued by the dish and searched for a recipe that I thought fit. I think you nailed it!!
Just saw this movie with my wife and mother-in-law after hearing about it on the “80’s All Over” podcast. We laughed throughout, and now I’m going to send this link to my wife and suggest she try making this dish!
Great movie!!!! I own it watch it all the time I’m with you I love her hair always have and Chevy Chase is the funniest love all the vacation movies love every movie Goldie’s ever made I love chicken pepperoni never had it but I intend to make it because of your recipe sounds delish
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES!!!! The dish always sounded so wonderful.
my favorite movie of all time. I love chester and have looked for years for Aurora’s chicken Pepperoni!! So glad you took the time to create it.
I love that movie, too!! I watch it every time it’s on! I so hope you like my version of what I’ve imagined it tasted like! 🙂
Have always remembered Chicken pepperoni since seeing the movie as a kid. Always wondered if it was a real recipe. I’ll try and hope I get it right.
Hope you enjoy, Penny!! My hubby and and I loved it!
Watching it now funnt
I woke up this morning thinking about Chicken Pepperoni! I also remember this movie (although I had forgotten the name of the housekeeper Aurora who had to have her feet scraped!) Googled ‘chicken pepperoni’ and found this post and recipe and it all came flooding back! Hilarious movie, your recipe sounds great, thank you for giving me a blast from the past chuckle this morning!
You are so welcome, Betty!!! I do hope that you give this a try! Even my picky hubby LOVED it! Maybe it was Chester’s wine.. LOL!!! 😀 😉
Lol this has been my dilema since I first saw this movie!!!!! I too was the same age. I got two things from this movie….My live for Yorkies, the last dog to run through every dog sceen, and my fav pizza is pepperoni and chicken IS my steak! Thanks for the creative recipe! It came to mind today so I google. You made my day! Can’t wait to try it.
OOPPPSS sorry, i thought i hit the 5 stars for my previous comment but i didn’t come through, so i had to do it again.
Second time i made this. One of my favorite dishes and it seems to fit the movie better then any other copycat recipe out there. This is just spot on. Such a great movie…You should consider doing you tube videos. I’d love to see you prepare all these outstanding dishes. I bet you’d have 100,000 subscribers in no time.
Awww, thank you very much, Jen! Yep, I thought that with “Aurora” being hispanic, that it should have a little kick of spices in there! And it worked! 😀 We really enjoy it, too! Thanks so much for stopping by! 😀
this is one of my favorite movies. glad someone out there finally came up with the recipe for chicken pepperoni. i always knew it would make a great dish. i have one question, can you substitute red peppers for cubanelle peppers? i can’t find that anywhere in my hometown. 🙂
Watching the movie right now!! One of the best movies ever. I will be making Aurora’s Chicken Pepperoni very soon…… I won’t be out back eating chicken, that’s for sure!!!
Hahaha!! 😀 So happy to hear that you’re enjoying everything! 🙂
This is awesome! Thanks! I can’t wait to try it! This was literally one of my favorite & most watched movies ever! 🙂
You’re welcome! I loved it, too! I still watch it any time it’s on! Hope you enjoy the chicken! 🙂
hahahhaha!! You did a wonderful job of this whole process!!! I have loved this movie and have seen it a gozillion times!! My sister and I have always repeated–well no one really can–the “I have to get my feet e-scraped!!!” Oh yes you did the whole thing very proud!!! I think Aurora -and the governor–would be very impressed with your recipe–and your thought process too!!
Aw, thanks, Debbie!!! 😀 I loved this movie since it first came out, and I’d be one rich woman if I had a dollar for every time I’ve watched it! I so hope that you give it a try sometime. In my own humble opinion, based on the character, I think I nailed it! The hubs LOVED it, too! 😀 Had a blast creating it!! 😀 I bet Goldie and Chevy would get kick out of it!! 🙂
Love love love your concept! This is also one of my all-time favorite movies and I watch it often, especially when I need some silliness. Gonna try your recipe for sure! Your writing is very enjoyable. Thank you!
Awww, thank you, Maryellen! Sure hope you give the chicken pepperoni a try, too! It was really, real good! “Looooooove that chicken pepperoni!” 😀 😉
I have also seen ‘Seems like Old Times’ multiple times, and love that movie! Reminds me of the old black & white romantic comedies of the forties — flirty romance and lots of laughs! Anyway, I was also curious about the ‘Chicken Pepperoni’, and am so glad you went ahead and ‘invented’ the dish and it seems like it will be as good as I had imagined. Will be trying it ASAP! Unless I have to get my feet scraped… : )
Hahahahha!!! Oh, Sue!!! That cracked me up!!!! 😀 I, too, love the old black and white movies!! They just don’t make them like that anymore! So wish that they did! They don’t need all this fancy high-tech, computerized junk in there….just a great story. And great actors! 😉 Thanks so much for the laugh! Hope you enjoy the Chicken Pepperoni, and grab a glass of that wine to go with before Chester drinks it all! 😉 😀 Have a great day! You sure made mine! 🙂
Looks like Italian heaven to me!! Nettie
Thanks, Nettie! Italian with a spicy kick! 😉 😀
How have I never seen this movie? Need to get my hands on it, and enjoy this dish while watching the movie!
If you love entertaining, silly-fun, romantic comedies, you’ll love it, too!!! 😀 Such a breath of FRESH AIR from today’s world!! And I think, I hope, that I truly captured the whole essence of the dish, too! Just super fun all the way around! 😀 Enjoy, Kris!!! 😀
Now I have never seen the movie, but your story telling about the movie not only makes me want to “see the movie”, but make the recipe as well!
This looks awesome sweet pea, pinning my friend!
Oh, you’ve just got to see it! It’s hilarious, Goldie and Chevy are ADORABLE (I’d KILL for her HAIR!!!), and it’s just a wacky, silly, FUN, romantic comedy that I’ve loved since high school!! 😀
There’s too much Cheese – only joking! Good grief I would love love this!
Too much cheese? Pft. Not in this house! No such thing! Ha!!!! 😉 😀 Thanks for stopping by, Patty! Good to hear from you!