Description
This Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast recipe is a delicious and hearty main course featuring tender chicken breasts filled with a creamy mixture of spinach, cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, and garlic. Perfectly seasoned and baked to juicy perfection, it’s a flavorful and satisfying meal that’s easy to prepare and sure to impress.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Filling
- 3 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to warm up while you prepare the chicken.
- Prepare the Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped fresh spinach, softened cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, and minced garlic. Mix thoroughly until well incorporated.
- Prepare the Chicken Breasts: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Carefully make a deep pocket in the side of each breast by slicing horizontally, being careful not to cut all the way through.
- Stuff the Chicken: Spoon the spinach and cheese mixture evenly into each chicken breast pocket. Use toothpicks to secure the openings if necessary, preventing the filling from leaking out during baking.
- Season the Chicken: Brush the outside of each stuffed chicken breast with olive oil. Sprinkle evenly with salt, black pepper, paprika, onion powder, and dried Italian seasoning to enhance the flavor.
- Bake: Arrange the stuffed chicken breasts in a baking dish. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Rest and Serve: After baking, remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for five minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring a moist and tender bite. Remove toothpicks before serving.
Notes
- For a tangier flavor, substitute goat cheese in place of cream cheese in the filling.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes or chopped artichokes to the spinach mixture for extra richness and flavor complexity.
- If fresh spinach is unavailable, use thawed frozen spinach but be sure to squeeze out excess moisture to prevent a soggy filling.
