Description
Spinach stuffed chicken breast brings Mediterranean flavors to your dinner table with elegant simplicity. Creamy feta and fresh spinach nestled inside juicy chicken create a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Filling:
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
Seasoning and Cooking:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Toothpicks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C), ensuring an even heating environment for perfect chicken preparation.
- Create a creamy spinach filling by thoroughly blending cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, chopped spinach, minced garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl until ingredients are uniformly distributed.
- Carefully slice a horizontal pocket into each chicken breast, keeping the sides intact to create a stable cavity for stuffing.
- Generously fill each chicken breast pocket with the prepared spinach mixture, ensuring even distribution and maximum flavor coverage.
- Secure the stuffed chicken breasts with toothpicks to prevent filling from escaping during cooking.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes per side, developing a golden-brown exterior and locking in initial flavors.
- Transfer seared chicken breasts to a baking dish and roast in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches the safe 165°F (75°C).
- Remove toothpicks carefully before serving and plate with complementary side dishes for a complete meal.
Notes
- Ensure chicken breasts are similar in size for even cooking and consistent stuffing distribution.
- Pat chicken dry before cutting pockets to prevent excess moisture and help seasoning adhere better.
- For a lighter version, swap cream cheese with Greek yogurt or cottage cheese to reduce fat content.
- Gluten-free diners can replace cheese with nutritional yeast for a similar flavor profile without dairy complications.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg