Tender chicken breasts stuffed with a creamy, nutty, and cheesy spinach filling, perked up with Italian herbs, and lightly seared outside and juicy within, this recipe is shockingly easy to make and will instantly upgrade your night. Boneless, skinless chicken breast is an appealing cut of meat because it’s healthy, inexpensive, and widely approved by even picky eaters (especially if it’s Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast or Pecan Crusted Chicken). It can also be dry and a total snooze fest. Three methods to cook a juicy chicken breast that is NOT DRY are brining (like in this Baked Chicken Breast), marinading (like this Chicken Marinade), and stuffing (ahem, this tasty recipe right here!). I especially love stuffing chicken breast. (I use the same trick in Stuffed Pork Tenderloin, Stuffed Salmon, and Stuffed Pork Chops.)
The filling insulates and flavors an otherwise fairly bland cut of meat.It gives you many delicious possibilities for your weeknight dinner.
You can stuff chicken breast with any combination of cheese, sautéed vegetables (broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes all work well), herbs, and even meat if you like. Well, stuffing gives you many ways to play around with chicken breast in theory, but this Greek-meets-Italy feta, spinach, and Parmesan recipe is the best stuffed chicken breast I’ve ever had! In addition to being ultra tasty, the very idea of a cheesy filling waiting inside each piece turns it into a present on your plate (just like the ham and white cheddar cheese stuffed Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu!). This healthy spinach and chicken recipe is supremely satisfying.
How to Make Stuffed Chicken Breast with Cheese
The best way to cook a stuffed chicken breast is to sear the outsides on the stovetop to create a nice, golden crust, then finish it in the oven.
I like to place my hand on top of the breast so I can feel how deeply the knife is inserted.
Once you’ve cut the pocket, with a small spoon or your fingers, add your filling inside.
To keep the filling from spilling out, secure it with a toothpick.
This spinach stuffed chicken breast recipe contains no cream cheese.Instead, I took loose inspiration from spanakopita and used feta. Its creamy texture and salty touch were just right.For a more mild option, try mozzarella cheese stuffed chicken or one of the below suggestions.
The Ingredients
Chicken Breast. Approved by adults and kids alike. It’s a protein-packed, tender blank canvas that’s ideal for pairing with a wide range of flavors (like those in the stuffing).Baby Spinach. Rich in fiber, calcium, and vitamins, fresh spinach is an ultra nutritious addition to the stuffing. Its mild flavor makes it kid-friendly.Spices. Dried sage, dried oregano, pepper, and nutmeg pump up the flavor in our stuffing and give it depth. If you have fresh herbs, feel free to add them too.Feta. Salty, tangy, cheesy goodness that pairs beautifully with the other flavors in the stuffing.
Parmesan. The other can’t-miss, crowd-pleasing cheesy component in our stuffing. Walnuts. Walnuts add a spectacular nuttiness that gives the filling a gourmet taste you’ll feel proud of yourself for cooking.Butter. Helps create a delicious sear on the chicken breasts and adds rich flavor. Lemon. Adds wonderful brightness and acidity to the chicken.
The Directions
Storage Tips
To Store. Refrigerate chicken in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days. To Reheat. Rewarm chicken in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F. To Freeze. Stuffed chicken breast can be frozen in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
Oven-Safe Skillet. Seamlessly transitions from stovetop to oven. Extra Large Cutting Board. The extra space is critical for prepping the chicken breasts. Instant Read Thermometer. A foolproof way to check your chicken for doneness.
This baked stuffed chicken breast is a bit of mealtime magic.
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Stuffed Chicken Breast Video
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