Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato and Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast
Imagine tender chicken breasts, generously filled with a vibrant and creamy blend of sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach. This satisfying dish offers a delightful combination of savory and slightly tangy flavors, balanced by the comforting richness of the creamy filling. Perfect for an elegant weeknight dinner or a special occasion, it's an impressive meal that's surprisingly simple to prepare. This recipe is a FlavorTrailRecipes.blogspot.com favorite, offering a delicious and achievable meal for home cooks.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Flavorful and Satisfying: The combination of sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, cream cheese, and Parmesan cheese creates a rich and complex flavor profile that's both comforting and exciting.
- Easy to Make: Despite its elegant presentation, this recipe is surprisingly straightforward and requires minimal cooking skills.
- Versatile: Easily adaptable to suit various dietary needs and preferences, including a vegetarian option using portobello mushrooms. #vegetarianoption #portobellomushrooms
- Impressive Presentation: The stuffed chicken breasts look beautiful on a plate, making them perfect for a special occasion or impressing guests.
- Healthy and Balanced: This dish provides a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, making it a nutritious and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
This recipe uses simple, readily available ingredients to create a gourmet experience. You'll find most items in your local grocery store.
| Category | Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | Boneless, skinless chicken breasts | 4 (about 175-200g each) |
| Produce | Olive oil | 4 tbsp |
| Produce | Shallot, finely minced | 1 medium |
| Produce | Garlic, minced | 2 cloves |
| Produce | Fresh spinach, roughly chopped | 150g |
| Produce | Sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed), drained and chopped | 100g |
| Dairy & Cheese | Cream cheese, softened | 120g |
| Dairy & Cheese | Grated Parmesan cheese | 50g |
| Herbs & Spices | Chopped fresh basil | 2 tbsp |
| Herbs & Spices | Chopped fresh oregano | 1 tbsp |
| Seasoning | Salt | 1/2 tsp |
| Seasoning | Black pepper | 1/4 tsp |
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Preheat oven to 190°C / 375°F. Place chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound to 1cm (1/2 inch) thickness for even cooking.
- Season the Chicken: Brush with 2 tbsp olive oil and season with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper.
- Make the Filling: Heat remaining olive oil in a skillet. Sauté shallot (3 minutes), then garlic (1 minute). Add spinach and cook until wilted (2-3 minutes). Cool slightly.
- Combine the Filling: In a bowl, mix cooked spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, remaining salt and pepper.
- Stuff the Chicken: Spread filling evenly over each chicken breast. Roll up tightly and secure with toothpicks if needed. #stuffedchicken #chickenrecipe
- Bake the Chicken: Place in a baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 74°C / 165°F. Remove toothpicks before serving.
- Rest and Serve: Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. #easyrecipe #dinnerideas
Expert Tips & Variations
- Vegetarian Option: Substitute chicken breasts with large portobello mushrooms. Remove stems and gills, stuff the caps, and bake for 20-25 minutes. #vegetarian #portobellomushrooms
- Spice it Up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the filling for extra heat.
- Cheese Lovers: Experiment with different cheeses! Feta or goat cheese would be delicious additions.
- Herb Variations: Try adding other herbs such as thyme or rosemary to the filling for a unique flavor profile.
Nutritional Information (Per Serving)
Approximate values: 420 calories, 40g protein, 15g carbohydrates, 22g fat.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this delectable dish with roasted asparagus or green beans and a side of quinoa or brown rice for a complete and balanced meal. A simple side salad would also complement the richness of the stuffed chicken breasts.
Keywords
chicken breasts, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, shallot, garlic, olive oil, vegetarian option, portobello mushrooms
Hashtags
#chickenrecipe, #stuffedchicken, #sundriedtomato, #spinach, #creamcheese, #parmesan, #easyrecipe, #dinnerideas, #comfortfood
We hope you enjoy this recipe! Visit FlavorTrailRecipes.blogspot.com for more delicious and easy-to-follow recipes. Let us know in the comments how your stuffed chicken turned out!