stuffed chicken breasts

Stuffed chicken breasts are a delicious and versatile dish that you can customize with various fillings. Here’s a basic recipe for stuffed chicken breasts:

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts (boneless and skinless)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Olive oil
• For the stuffing:
  • Spinach and feta:
    • Fresh spinach, chopped
    • Feta cheese, crumbled
    • Garlic, minced
  • Sun-dried tomato and mozzarella:
    • Sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
    • Mozzarella cheese, shredded
    • Basil, chopped
  • Mushroom and cream cheese:
    • Mushrooms, finely chopped
    • Cream cheese
    • Onion, finely chopped

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Prepare the stuffing of your choice. For spinach and feta, sauté chopped spinach and minced garlic in olive oil until wilted. Mix in crumbled feta. For sun-dried tomato and mozzarella, combine chopped sun-dried tomatoes, shredded mozzarella, and chopped basil. For mushroom and cream cheese, sauté finely chopped mushrooms and onions until softened, then mix with cream cheese.
3. Butterfly the chicken breasts: Slice each chicken breast horizontally, almost but not entirely through, so you can open it like a book.
4. Season the inside of each chicken breast with salt and pepper.
5. Spoon the desired stuffing into the center of each chicken breast.
6. Close the chicken breast over the stuffing and secure with toothpicks, if necessary.
7. Season the outside of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
8. Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, sear the stuffed chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown.
9. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
10. Remove from the oven and let the stuffed chicken breasts rest for a few minutes before serving.
11. Optionally, you can make a simple pan sauce using the drippings in the skillet or serve the stuffed chicken breasts with your favorite sauce.

Feel free to experiment with different stuffing ingredients and get creative with herbs and spices to suit your taste preferences.