Description
Juicy chicken breasts stuffed with a festive blend of creamy cheeses, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach — a perfect holiday main dish.
Ingredients
For the chicken:
4 small boneless chicken breasts
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp salt
For the stuffing:
6 oz cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes (finely chopped)
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup chopped baby spinach (squeezed to remove excess water)
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
For cooking:
1 tbsp butter (I like Kerrygold unsalted butter for this)
Instructions
1. Begin by butterflying the chicken breasts. To do this, slice each breast horizontally through the middle, stopping just before cutting them entirely in half. This will create a pocket for the filling. Once butterflied, sprinkle the outside of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika for seasoning. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, feta cheese, baby spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes. Stir until all the ingredients are well combined into a creamy and flavorful mixture.
3. Take each seasoned, butterflied chicken breast and stuff it with the prepared cheese and spinach mixture. Use toothpicks to secure the edges and hold the filling in place. It’s perfectly fine if some of the filling falls out; it will add extra flavor during cooking.
4. Place a skillet over medium heat and add butter to the pan. Once the butter is hot and starting to melt, add the stuffed chicken breasts to the skillet. Brown all sides of the chicken, carefully turning them to ensure even cooking. Continue to cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) to ensure it is fully cooked through.
5. Once the chicken breasts have reached the desired internal temperature, remove them from the skillet. Let them rest for a couple of minutes, then remove the toothpicks. Serve your stuffed chicken breasts hot, and enjoy the delicious combination of creamy filling and perfectly seasoned chicken!
Notes
This dish pairs beautifully with roasted vegetables or a holiday rice pilaf. To save time, you can prepare the stuffing in advance and refrigerate it until ready to use. For a golden finish, sear the chicken in the skillet and finish in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed chicken breast
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 120mg