Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Goat Cheese Recipe
This Cranberry & Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Goat Cheese recipe offers a delightful blend of savory and sweet flavors. Tender chicken breasts are filled with a creamy goat cheese mixture, fresh spinach, and sweet dried cranberries, then seared to perfection and baked for a juicy, flavorful meal perfect for a wholesome dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking and Searing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Carb
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 4 chicken breasts, butterflied
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Filling:
- 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup goat cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp cream cheese
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 clove garlic, minced
For Cooking:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F) to ensure it’s properly heated for baking the chicken.
- Prepare Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine chopped spinach, dried cranberries, softened goat cheese, cream cheese, honey, and minced garlic. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is well blended.
- Season Chicken: Brush the butterflied chicken breasts with olive oil, then season with minced garlic, dried thyme, paprika, salt, and black pepper evenly on both sides.
- Stuff Chicken: Spoon the prepared filling evenly into each chicken breast. Fold the breasts over and secure with toothpicks to keep the filling intact during cooking.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil and butter in an oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Once hot, sear the stuffed chicken breasts for about 3–4 minutes per side until they turn golden brown.
- Bake Chicken: Transfer the skillet directly to the preheated oven. Bake the chicken for 15–20 minutes until fully cooked through and juices run clear.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from oven and let the chicken rest for a few minutes to retain juices before serving for optimal flavor and moisture.
Notes
- Butterflying the chicken breasts helps create an even pocket for stuffing.
- If your chicken breasts are large, secure with toothpicks to keep the filling inside while cooking.
- Adjust seasoning according to taste, especially salt and pepper.
- Ensure the skillet used for searing is oven-safe to safely transfer to the oven.
- Letting the chicken rest after baking helps keep it juicy and tender.
- Leftover stuffed chicken breasts can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a dairy-free option, substitute goat and cream cheese with dairy-free cream cheese alternatives.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed chicken breast
- Calories: 510 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 42 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg
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