Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Filling
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
Other
- Toothpicks or kitchen twine
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it is properly heated by the time the chicken is prepared.
- Prepare Chicken Pockets: Cut a pocket lengthwise into each chicken breast without cutting all the way through, creating a space to hold the filling.
- Season Chicken: Season the inside and outside of the chicken breasts with salt and black pepper to enhance flavor.
- Cook Spinach and Garlic: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and chopped spinach, cooking until the spinach is wilted. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Mix Filling: In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, dried Italian seasoning, optional nutmeg, and the cooked spinach mixture to form a creamy filling.
- Stuff Chicken: Spoon the ricotta and spinach filling evenly into each chicken breast pocket.
- Secure Openings: Use toothpicks or kitchen twine to close each chicken breast securely to prevent the filling from leaking out during cooking.
- Prepare for Baking: Place the stuffed chicken breasts in a greased baking dish, ensuring they are spaced out for even cooking.
- Bake: Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and is cooked through.
- Rest and Serve: Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after baking to allow juices to redistribute before removing toothpicks or twine and serving.
Notes
- Avoid overstuffing to prevent filling from leaking out during baking.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes to the filling for extra savory flavor and depth.
- Serve with roasted vegetables or pasta to complete the meal.
- Leftover stuffed chicken breasts can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
