Juiciest Stuffed Chicken Breast Recipe

Quick Recipe Overview: Stuffed Chicken Breast with Cheese, Spinach, and Sun-dried Tomatoes

Set up the cooking station
Preheat the oven
Cut pockets in the chicken breast
Season the chicken
Mix ingredients in a bowl
Layer the inside of the chicken with your ingredients
Sear the chicken
Transfer to the oven
Garnish and serve!

Kiritsuke Chef's Knife 8.5" | Shogun Series

Chicken has proven its versatility countless times by easily creating a dish from very few ingredients. From a yummy baked chicken breast recipe where the meat is marinated in flavorful spices to wholesome soups and stews, chicken has very easily made its way into our everyday meal recipes. One of my favorite preparations has to be stuffed chicken and if you haven’t tried it before then you’re missing out on one of the most comforting dishes.

Not only is this stuffed chicken breast recipe very simple to prepare but is also packed with flavors and textures. To be honest, it is the kind of meal that you make once and get hooked on forever. If you are anything like me and are always looking for ways to make your chicken dinner more exciting, you have come to the right place.

Read on to learn how to cook up a hearty, healthy, and delicious chicken recipe and see how some ordinary ingredients come together to create this extraordinary dish.

1. Tools You Will Need

Before we get into the chicken recipe, let’s take a look at some important tools that you will need when setting up your cooking station:

A sharp knife

To prep your chicken breasts you are going to need a razor-sharp knife that can do the job with precision. For this purpose, I recommend you go for a 6-8 inch Chef’s Knife. You can also use a boning knife or a fillet knife to cut the chicken.

Cutting board

You will need a sturdy cutting board as a base to prep the chicken breasts for this dish. This will ensure that the meat does not move from its place while you cut it.

Apron

The kitchen can be a messy place, especially if you are just beginning to learn how to cook. I suggest using a reliable apron that can shield you and your clothes from any mess or splatter that is bound to happen.

2. How to Cut Chicken Breast for Stuffing

Follow these simple steps to cut the chicken breasts perfectly for this recipe:

You want to get started with larger boneless, skinless chicken breasts. This will give you enough meat to work with.
Place the chicken breast on a clean cutting board and use your non-dominant hand to firmly hold the chicken down.
Using a sharp knife, simply cut horizontally through the middle. However, make sure that your stop before fully splitting the chicken breast open.

This will help you create a pocket to hold the filling for the chicken breasts.

3. Recipe: Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast with Cheese and Sundried Tomatoes

This is recipe is inspired by the nineties and will give you a stuffed chicken breast that is delicious, impressive, and very easy to put together. The savory flavor of sun-dried tomato and spinach are paired with cheese to give a hearty and wholesome meal in less than an hour!

Now, without any further delay, let’s jump straight to the recipe.

Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast with Cheese and Sun-dried Tomatoes

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

50 mins

Servings

Ingredients
Chicken Breasts	4 large boneless, skinless Chicken Breasts
Ingredients	1 teaspoon Salt 2 tablespoons Olive Oil 2 cloves Garlic (minced) ¼ cup Pesto 4 tablespoons of Cream Cheese ¾ cup Mozzarella cheese (shredded) ½ cup Sundried Tomatoes ½ cup Spinach (roughly chopped) 2 tablespoons Parsley (minced) Note: You can also replace the 2 cloves of garlic with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.

Cooking Instructions
Step 1: Set up the cooking station	Gather all the ingredients and tools listed above before you get started working on the chicken.
Step 2: Preheat the oven	Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 3: Cut pockets in the chicken breast	Place the chicken on the cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut a pocket into the side of the chicken breasts. Note: Remember you are creating a “pocket” for the filling, so be careful not to cut all the way through.
Step 4: Season the chicken	Season the chicken with salt, inside and out.
Step 5: Mix ingredients in a bowl	Take a small bowl, mix the garlic, pesto, cream cheese, and mozzarella. Set aside.
Step 6: Layer the insides of the chicken pockets	Now, layer the insides of the chicken with the cream cheese and spinach mixture you set aside, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. Secure the opening of the chicken breast with a toothpick.
Step 7: Sear the chicken	Heat olive oil in a cast-iron pan or over an ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken on both sides for 3-4 minutes each, until golden brown.
Step 8: Transfer to the oven	Place the chicken breasts into the pan or baking dish and place them in an oven until the internal temperature of the meat is 165 degrees F. This will take about 16-18 minutes. Note: This can take longer depending on the size of the chicken breast.
Step 9: Garnish and serve!	The stuffed chicken breast is ready! Garnish them with some fresh parsley and serve with your favorite sides.

4. Nutrition Facts

Stuffed Chicken Breast with Cheese, Spinach, and Sun-dried Tomatoes
Calories	440kcal
Total Fat	22g
Dietary Fiber	1g
Carbohydrates	6g
Protein	52g
Cholesterol	157mg
Sodium	404mg
Sugar	3g

5. Alternate Recipe: Mushroom-Stuffed Chicken Breast

Here is another mouth-watering variation to make chicken breasts more interesting than it usually is:

Mushroom-Stuffed Chicken Breast

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

45 mins

Servings

Ingredients
Chicken Breasts	2 large skinless Chicken Breasts (boneless)
Ingredients	¾ teaspoon Salt ¼ teaspoon of Pepper 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter 200g Mushrooms (sliced thick) 2 cloves Garlic (minced) ½ teaspoon Thyme Leaves 2 cups Baby Spinach 80g Mozzarella (sliced) 1 tablespoon Olive Oil Note: You can also replace the 2 cloves of garlic with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.

Cooking Instructions
Step 1: Set up the cooking station	Gather all the ingredients and tools listed above before you get started working on the stuffed chicken breast recipe.
Step 2: Preheat the oven	Preheat your oven to 390 degrees F.
Step 3: Cut pockets in the chicken breast	Cut pockets into each chicken breast. Remember not to cut it all the way through as you need to create pockets for the filling.
Step 4: Season the chicken	Season the chicken inside out with salt and pepper.
Step 5: Mushroom Filling	Melt butter in a heavy-based oven-proof skillet over high heat. Add mushrooms and cook for 3 minutes until they start to turn pretty golden. Add garlic, thyme, remaining salt, and pepper and continue cooking for another 2 minutes unlit the mushroom are golden.
Step 6: Add spinach	Add baby spinach and stir until wilted. This should take about 30 seconds.
Step 7: Stuff the mixture	Stuff the mushroom mixture into the pocket of each chicken. Then top it with cheese.
Step 8: Seal the chicken breasts	Seal with toothpicks to make sure the filling does not ooze out of the chicken. Note: It does not have to be fully sealed, just sealed enough to keep the stuffing intact.
Step 9: Sear the chicken	Wipe the pan with paper towels first. Then, add oil and heat over medium-high heat. Sear each side of the chicken breast for 1½ minutes, until golden.
Step 10: Transfer to the oven	Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken flesh is 149 degrees F.
Step 11: Let it rest	Remove from the oven onto a plate, cover with foil loosely and let it rest for 5 minutes. This will allow the chicken to absorb all the juices and prevent them from drying out.
Step 12: Garnish and serve!	Sprinkle the chicken with fresh basil or parsley and serve!

6. Tips for Making Stuffed Chicken Breast Recipe

Making stuffed chicken breasts is one of the easiest chicken preparations but there are some things you should keep in mind to make sure the dish is cooked perfectly:

Make sure the chicken breasts you use are on the larger side and are equal-sized. Also remember that if you are feeding light-eaters or a party of children, you don't need to serve them each a whole main dish. In that case, you can slice it up and divide the stuffed chicken breasts.
You want to ensure that you make the pockets deep enough without slicing the chicken breast fully. The bigger the pocket, the more filling you can stuff in there. This is why using a very sharp knife makes this task easier.
While using a toothpick to secure the stuffed chicken breast is optional, it is recommended. Some of the stuffing is bound to ooze out in the cooking process but you want to make sure that most of it is still stuffed in while crisping up the cheese a little bit.
For cheese stuffed chicken breasts you can also substitute the mozzarella with parmesan cheese, goat cheese, provolone, cheddar, or feta cheese.
To add some crispiness to the chicken breast, you can dip it in egg wash and coat it with bread crumbs before placing it in the oven.
In case you don’t have fresh spinach around, you can also use frozen spinach for the stuffing. However, make sure to soak it in warm water until it defrosts.

7. Recommended Knives to Cut Chicken Breasts

Here is a list of some of my favorite blades that will work best for this purpose:

1. Chef’s Knife 6”- Shadow Black Series | Dalstrong

This muscular-looking knife is designed for accuracy. This high-performance tool is ruthlessly sharp and will help you achieve the cuts that you want with maximum precision. From slicing bacon into smaller bits to chopping up veggies like broccoli and bell peppers, this blade can handle it all.

Pros:

The razor-sharp tip of the blade of this knife will help you create pockets on the chicken breasts effortlessly.
The non-reflective coating on the blade of this knife provides it with durability and enhances its performance.
This blade of this knife also supports excellent edge retention, reducing food drag and ensuring minimal flesh damage.

Cons:

The look of this blade can be a little too bold for some chefs. However, with Dalstrong’s impeccable range you won’t have a problem finding a chef’s knife that suits your style and taste.
If you are just beginning your journey in the kitchen, this knife might seem slightly pricey.

2. Boning Knife 6”- Gladiator Series | Dalstrong

This knife is going to be your best friend, especially if you are someone who handles big quantities of in-bone meat. This knife is designed to ensure de-boning, filleting, skinning, trimming, and butterflying meats with efficiency. The nimble blade of this knife is perfect for the task of creating pockets on chicken breasts.

Pros:

This 6” blade is designed for maximum maneuverability, giving you control when performing delicate tasks like cutting pockets.
Not only is the knife pleasing to look at but is also designed to provide comfort, enabling the user to work tirelessly for long hours.
The knife is very easy to clean and maintain, making this a hassle-free investment.

Cons:

This knife is designed to help you debone meat with ease. However, if you are looking for something more versatile, you can go for a chef’s knife.
If you are looking to debone a larger chunk of meat, then you could go for a longer blade length, like the 8” boning knife.

3. Boning Knife 8”- Shogun Series | Dalstrong

This is a tool designed for peak performance and outstanding results. With a slightly longer blade than usual, this knife acts as an extension of your arm and helps you slice up even larger cuts of meat with great ease.

Pros:

For high-volume preps, this knife is perfect as it helps reduce wrist and hand fatigue.
The staggeringly sharp blade allows you to create pockets in the chicken breasts with utmost precision.
The tapered blade provides you with more control and improves maneuverability, making this a great blade to perform delicate and daunting kitchen tasks.

Cons:

If you are new to the kitchen, this 8” blade might get slightly tricky to handle.
While investing in this knife is worth it, you can go for more affordable options if you don’t see yourself using this blade frequently.

4. Fillet Knife 6.5”- Crusader Series | Dalstrong

Sleek, sharp, and subtle, the blade of this knife is designed to give the best results with minimal effort. Not only is the razor-sharp blade of this knife perfect for cutting through anything placed in front of it, but it is also built to be paired up with any kind of décor, enhancing its look.

Pros:

This blade is nicely priced, making it a great addition to your kitchen arsenal.
The stylized groove along the knife reduced friction and stuck-on food, making it the perfect blade to create pockets on chicken breasts.
These knives are very easy to maintain and highly durable, making sure they last a lifetime.

Cons:

The all-steel handle of this blade can be a problem for some as they might find it slippery on being used.
For filleting larger cuts of meat, you might want to invest in a longer blade length that will allow you to make long cuts in one single motion.

5. Flexible Fillet Knife 7”- Gladiator Series | Dalstrong

If you are looking for a blade that is efficient, easy to use, and ultra maneuverable, then this is the blade you need. The highly flexible blade is designed for de-boning, descaling, filleting, skinning, trimming, and butterflying meat with ease and accuracy.

Pros:

This ultra-sharp blade is wear-resistant, giving this knife extra durability to last you for a long time.
The razor-sharp blade of this knife is hand-sharpened to 16-18 degrees per side, allowing you to breeze through flesh and sinew.
Not only is this knife built to work tirelessly by your side in the kitchen but is also very easy to maintain, making it a wise addition to your knife collection.

Cons:

The blade of this knife is very thin and tapered. So, if you are looking for something that also helps your transfer the food, you might want to go with a chef’s knife with a broader blade.
While the nimble blade of this knife is built to help you get rid of the bone easily, it might not be the best option for tackling bigger cuts of meat, fruits, or vegetable.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best way to stuff chicken breast?

Everyday ingredients like onions, garlic, lemon, herbs, and spices can be stuffed inside the chicken to add flavor to the meat. You can also choose to add other ingredients like mushrooms, cheese, spinach, and tomatoes to boost the flavor profile of the meat.

Can you stuff raw chicken breast?

Yes, you can stuff raw chicken breasts with just about anything. You can go the traditional way and stuff it with ingredients like butter, cheese, and ham or get creative with it and add chorizo or spinach stuffing. In my opinion, it’s a great way to get done with leftovers.

Should I bake chicken breast covered or uncovered?

Spray the chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle them with seasoning. Bake them uncovered until their internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. This should take about 20 minutes in an oven heated to 450 degrees F. Once done, loosely cover the chicken breasts with foil and let them rest before slicing and serving.

How do you know when stuffed chicken breast is cooked?

The best way to determine whether the chicken breasts are cooked all the way is to use an instant-read thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the chicken to measure the internal temperature accurately.

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Written by Himani Vaid

Toronto-based food nerd turned food storyteller, Himani is a connoisseur of all things delish. Currently, busy thinking about what to eat next.