Description
Mediterranean stuffed chicken blends rich flavors from Greece and Italy into one delightful meal. Succulent chicken breasts filled with tangy feta, spinach, and herbs promise a simple yet elegant dining experience you can savor with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken & Seasonings:
- 4 (8 ounces / 226 grams) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Mediterranean Filling:
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 cup baby spinach, chopped
- 1/4 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
- 2 tablespoons kalamata olives
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Cooking Liquid:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (remaining from chicken & seasonings section)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 400°F, ensuring a hot cooking environment for the chicken.
- Gently pat the chicken breast with paper towels to remove excess moisture, creating a clean surface for seasoning.
- Create a deep horizontal pocket in the thickest part of the chicken breast, being careful not to slice completely through the meat.
- Massage oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper thoroughly onto both sides of the chicken, coating evenly for maximum flavor infusion.
- Blend spinach, feta, roasted red peppers, basil, olives, and garlic in a mixing bowl, incorporating olive oil to create a cohesive Mediterranean-inspired filling.
- Carefully spoon the prepared filling into the chicken pocket, distributing the mixture uniformly to ensure balanced flavors in each bite.
- Secure the stuffed chicken pocket using toothpicks to prevent the filling from escaping during cooking.
- Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, then sear the stuffed chicken until a golden-brown crust forms, approximately 3 minutes per side.
- Transfer the skillet directly into the preheated oven and roast uncovered for 15-18 minutes, or until the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
Notes
- Prep Like a Pro carefully pat chicken dry to ensure crispy exterior and prevent soggy skin.
- Create Perfect Pocket slice chicken horizontally with sharp knife, keeping one side intact for even stuffing distribution.
- Balance Flavor Blend Mediterranean ingredients like feta and olives proportionally to avoid overwhelming saltiness.
- Low-Carb Adaptation skip breadcrumbs and replace high-carb ingredients with additional herbs and vegetables for keto-friendly version.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 21 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 100mg