Description
Delicious spinach stuffed chicken breasts baked to perfection with a creamy ricotta and Parmesan filling, topped with melted mozzarella cheese. This easy-to-make dish combines tender chicken with flavorful herbs and creamy cheese stuffing, perfect for a satisfying and healthy dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
Spinach Filling
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups fresh spinach leaves, chopped
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Topping
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the chicken breasts evenly.
- Prepare Chicken Breasts: Carefully cut a pocket in each chicken breast by slicing about 3/4 of the way through the thickest part. Season both sides with salt and pepper to add basic seasoning.
- Sauté Garlic: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds, to enhance flavor.
- Cook Spinach: Add chopped spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Mix Filling: Remove skillet from heat and let slightly cool. Stir in ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, and Italian seasoning to the cooked spinach until well combined for a creamy and flavorful filling.
- Stuff Chicken: Divide the spinach mixture evenly and stuff it into the pockets of each chicken breast.
- Secure Stuffing: Use toothpicks to close the openings of the chicken breasts to keep the filling inside during baking.
- Prepare for Baking: Place the stuffed chicken breasts in a baking dish and pour chicken broth around them to keep the meat moist while cooking.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to cook the chicken gently and evenly.
- Add Cheese and Finish Baking: Remove foil, sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over each stuffed chicken breast, and return to the oven, uncovered, for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Let the chicken rest for a few minutes after baking to allow juices to redistribute before serving.
Notes
- Make sure not to cut all the way through the chicken breasts to keep the stuffing secure inside.
- Using fresh spinach provides the best flavor and texture, but frozen spinach that is well drained can be used as a substitute.
- Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked safely.
- To prevent toothpicks from burning, remove them before serving.
- Adding chicken broth in the baking dish helps keep the chicken moist and tender.
