Description
Juicy boneless, skinless chicken breasts stuffed with a creamy mixture of broccoli, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and garlic, perfectly seasoned and baked to golden perfection for a flavorful and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken
- 4 chicken breasts (boneless and skinless)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Stuffing
- 1 cup broccoli florets (finely chopped)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 4 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) to ensure it is ready for baking the stuffed chicken breasts.
- Prepare the Chicken: Using a sharp knife, carefully slice each chicken breast horizontally to create a pocket for the stuffing, taking care not to cut all the way through. Season both sides and inside the pockets with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Make the Stuffing: In a mixing bowl, combine the finely chopped broccoli, shredded cheddar cheese, softened cream cheese, and minced garlic. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
- Stuff the Chicken: Evenly divide and stuff each chicken breast with the broccoli and cheese mixture, filling the pockets you created earlier.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the stuffed chicken breasts and sear them on both sides until they turn golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Bake the Chicken: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake the chicken breasts for 25 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and the filling is hot and bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Once cooked, remove the skillet from the oven and let the chicken breasts rest for a few minutes to retain their juiciness before serving.
Notes
- Pat the chicken dry before seasoning to help the spices stick better.
- For even cooking, gently flatten the thicker parts of the chicken breasts with a meat mallet before slicing pockets.
- Use room temperature cream cheese for easier mixing and a creamier stuffing.
- Let the chicken rest after baking to keep the meat juicy and tender.
- Ensure the chicken is cooked through when internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg
