Stuffed chicken breasts
Stuffed chicken breast is a savoury dish that involves filling boneless, skinless chicken breasts with a flavourful mixture. The stuffing typically consists of ingredients like cheese, herbs, vegetables, or other complementary flavours. It is a versatile option, as the stuffing can be customized to suit various tastes, making it a popular choice for a delicious main course.
Ingredients
1 cup = 250ml
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
For the filling
- 100 grams of cream cheese
- ¼ cup cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup finely chopped spinach
- 1 tsp pepper powder
- salt Check the notes
For the masala coating
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp Pepper
- 1 tbsp oil + 2 tbsp for frying
- Salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 190°C.
- Lay the chicken breasts flat on a cutting board. Carefully slice each chicken breast horizontally, without cutting all the way through, to create a pocket for stuffing.
- In a bowl, combine all the ingredients mentioned under the filling ingredients.
- Check the salt content before adding extra salt because some cheese will have salt.
- Stuff each chicken breast with this filling, ensuring not to overfill.
- Secure the opening with toothpicks to keep the stuffing in place.
- In a separate bowl, mix all the ingredients under the masala coating, add oil and form a paste.
- Brush the outside of each chicken breast with this masala paste.
- Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a cast iron skillet and add the chicken breast to sear the masala on the chicken breasts. Sear the chicken until it's browned on both sides. If the skillet gets too hot or the masala starts to burn, reduce the heat to medium.
- The actual cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken breast. You'll likely need to finish cooking in the oven to ensure the chicken is cooked through.
- Transfer the stuffed chicken breasts to a greased baking dish. If you have extra filling left from the stuffed chicken breast, you can add it to the baking dish before placing it in the oven. This can enhance the flavours of the dish and provide additional moisture.
- Just make sure to distribute the filling evenly around the chicken breasts in the baking dish. It can contribute to a delicious sauce or gravy as the chicken cooks.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the centre.
- Remove the toothpicks before serving.
- Serve with boiled/roasted potatoes and a salad.
- Enjoy your delicious stuffed chicken breasts!
Notes
You can customize the filling based on your preferences by adding ingredients like mushrooms, artichokes, or different cheeses.
Check the salt content in the cheese before adding additional salt to the stuffing mixture. Different cheeses, especially varieties like feta, can vary in their saltiness, and it's important to consider this when seasoning the dish. By tasting the cheese and adjusting the seasoning accordingly, you can ensure that the overall salt level in the stuffed chicken breast remains balanced and doesn't become overly salty.
Additionally, being mindful of the salt content in other ingredients, such as sun-dried tomatoes or any pre-seasoned herbs, can also contribute to achieving the desired flavour without making the dish too salty. It's always a good practice to taste and adjust as needed throughout the cooking process to achieve the perfect balance of flavours.
Remember that searing is about creating a beautiful crust, and the chicken may need to be finished cooking in the oven to ensure it is thoroughly cooked. If you choose to cook the chicken fully on the pan, continue cooking after searing until the chicken is fully cooked.
Adjust cooking times based on the size of the chicken breasts and the method of cooking.
