Description
This Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast recipe is a delicious and easy-to-make baked chicken dish featuring a creamy, flavorful filling of spinach, cream cheese, and Parmesan. Perfect for a nutritious weeknight meal, it pairs tender chicken breasts with a cheesy, garlicky spinach stuffing seasoned with aromatic Italian herbs and spices.
Ingredients
Scale
Spinach Filling
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups baby spinach, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp garlic powder
- ⅛ tsp red pepper flakes
Chicken Seasoning & Preparation
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs.)
- 1 ½ Tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) to prepare for baking the stuffed chicken breasts.
- Prepare Spinach Filling: In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese, shredded Parmesan and mozzarella, chopped spinach, pressed garlic, salt, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Mix thoroughly until the filling is well blended. Set aside.
- Mix Chicken Seasoning: In a separate small bowl, combine Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and freshly cracked black pepper. This will be used to season the chicken breasts.
- Cut Chicken Pockets: Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board. Using a sharp small knife, carefully create a slit pocket in the side of each breast about ¾ of the way through, making sure not to slice all the way through.
- Oil and Season Chicken: Rub olive oil over both sides of each chicken breast. Then evenly coat each piece with the prepared seasoning mixture on both sides.
- Stuff Chicken Breasts: Divide the spinach and cheese filling evenly and stuff it into the pockets of each chicken breast, ensuring the filling is fully enclosed.
- Bake Chicken: Arrange the stuffed breasts in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), indicating the chicken is fully cooked.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Serve hot and enjoy your flavorful stuffed chicken breast.
Notes
- This recipe is budget-friendly and quick to prepare, making it ideal for a weeknight dinner.
- Ensure not to cut the chicken breasts completely through when creating pockets to keep the filling inside during baking.
- Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to guarantee the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat.
- You can use fresh or thawed frozen spinach; just make sure it’s well-drained to avoid excess moisture in the filling.
- Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat nicely in the oven or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed chicken breast
- Calories: 340 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 1138 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
