Description
A delicious and creamy spinach stuffed chicken breast recipe featuring tender chicken breasts filled with a flavorful mixture of sautéed spinach, cream cheese, and mozzarella. This easy-to-make dish combines a golden sear on the stovetop with oven baking to ensure juicy, perfectly cooked chicken with a rich, cheesy filling. Ideal for a wholesome weeknight dinner or a special occasion meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Filling
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the stuffed chicken breasts.
- Create Pocket: Cut a pocket into each chicken breast carefully, making sure not to cut all the way through, to create space for the stuffing.
- Sauté Spinach: In a pan over medium heat, sauté the fresh spinach for 2-3 minutes until wilted, then remove from heat.
- Make Filling: In a bowl, mix the wilted spinach with cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until evenly combined.
- Stuff Chicken: Spoon the spinach filling into each chicken breast pocket, filling it generously.
- Secure & Season: Use toothpicks to close the openings of the chicken breasts, then season the outside with salt and pepper to taste.
- Sear Chicken: Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook the stuffed chicken breasts for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and seared.
- Bake: Transfer the seared chicken breasts to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) ensuring they are cooked through.
- Serve: Remove toothpicks, serve the stuffed chicken breasts hot, and enjoy your creamy, cheesy meal.
Notes
- Make sure not to cut through the chicken breasts when creating pockets to prevent the filling from leaking out during cooking.
- Sautéing the spinach removes excess moisture, preventing the filling from becoming watery.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature for perfectly cooked chicken.
- You can swap mozzarella for other cheeses like provolone or cheddar for varied flavors.
- Remove toothpicks carefully before serving to avoid choking hazards.
