Description
These Cheesy Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts are juicy, flavorful, and packed with a creamy spinach and cheese filling. Perfect for a family dinner or an elegant meal, this recipe is easy to prepare and delivers impressive results!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Chicken Breasts:
- 3 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 3/4 to 2 lbs, even-sized pieces)
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
For the Filling:
- 4 oz cream cheese, cold
- 1 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 garlic cloves, pressed
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups baby spinach leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 425°F with a rack in the center position.
- Prepare Filling: In a mixing bowl, mash cream cheese, mayonnaise, and garlic with a fork. Stir in mozzarella, parmesan, and chopped spinach leaves until well combined.
- Stuff Chicken: Lay chicken breasts on a flat surface and cut a slit 3/4 of the way through each, without cutting all the way. Stuff each breast with 1/3 of the spinach mixture and secure the edges with toothpicks to keep the filling inside.
- Season Chicken: Season the outside of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, ensuring even coverage.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in an oven-proof skillet, such as cast iron, over medium heat. Add the stuffed chicken breasts and sear for 4 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Bake: Flip the chicken breasts again and transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Bake for 10–15 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165°F.
- Rest and Serve: Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Spoon pan juices over the chicken before serving.
Notes
- Substitutions: You can swap baby spinach for kale or add sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor in the filling.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave.
- Toothpick Tip: Use wooden toothpicks and remove them carefully before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 460mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 110mg