Description
A savory Italian-American dish featuring tender chicken breasts stuffed with a creamy blend of cream cheese, mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbed spinach, finished with a golden sear and baked to perfection. A weeknight winner and crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Boneless skinless chicken breasts (4, 1.5-inch thickness)
Salt and pepper (to taste, using kosher salt)
Smoked paprika (½ tsp)
Red pepper flakes (¼ tsp)
Olive oil (1-2 tbsp)
Garlic (4 cloves, minced fresh)
Full-fat cream cheese (4 oz, vegan alternative optional)
Shredded mozzarella (1 cup)
Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes (1/3 cup, drained and chopped)
Fresh spinach (2 cups, packed, optional note not in original)
Parmesan cheese (1 tbsp, grated, optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium
Add minced garlic to the skillet and sauté 30 seconds
Add spinach to the skillet and wilt for 3-4 minutes
Cool spinach mixture completely
Drain oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chop, and add to skillet
Combine cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and herbs
Gently fold in spinach-tomato mixture and set aside
Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels
Use a small knife to cut a deep pocket in each breast without tearing
Season chicken exterior with salt, pepper, and remaining olive oil (0.5 tbsp)
Stuff 2-3 tbsp of the spinach-tomato mixture into each pocket
Seal edges with toothpicks or kitchen twine
heat remaining olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high
Sear chicken on both sides until golden (2-3 minutes per side)
Transfer skillet to oven and bake for 18-22 minutes
Remove chicken from oven after baking to rest 5 minutes before serving
Notes
Use cast iron skillet for consistent sear and oven transfer
Leftover spinach-tomato mixture can be pureed for pasta sauces
Vegan option: substitute cream cheese and mozzarella with vegan alternatives
For extra juiciness, let chicken rest 10 minutes after baking opens pores
Adjust baking time based on chicken thickness
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: DINNER
- Method: Searing and Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed chicken breast
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 185mg