Imagine cutting into a perfectly golden chicken breast and watching a river of melted cheese and savory sausage spill out onto your plate. This isn't just another chicken recipe—this is a culinary adventure that transforms an ordinary dinner into a gourmet experience. With just the right blend of Italian sausage, creamy cheeses, and fresh spinach, these stuffed chicken breasts are about to become your new obsession that will have everyone at the dinner table begging for seconds.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 boneless chicken breasts
- 200g Italian sausage
- 1 cup spinach, chopped
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease with olive oil.
- Remove Italian sausage from casings and cook in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it into small crumbles. Cook until the sausage is fully browned and no pink remains, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, combine cooked sausage, chopped spinach, cream cheese, and shredded mozzarella. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Butterfly each chicken breast by slicing horizontally, being careful not to cut completely through. Open the chicken breast like a book, creating a pocket for stuffing.
- Season the inside and outside of each chicken breast with salt and pepper.
- Divide the sausage and cheese mixture evenly among the chicken breasts, stuffing each breast carefully.
- Secure the chicken breasts with toothpicks or kitchen twine to keep the stuffing inside during cooking.
- Brush the outside of each chicken breast with olive oil to ensure golden browning.
- Place stuffed chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are not touching each other.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken's internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before removing toothpicks or twine.
- Serve hot, optionally garnishing with fresh herbs like parsley or basil.
Tips
- Always use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches the safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- For extra flavor, try using spicy Italian sausage to add a kick to your stuffing.
- When butterflying chicken breasts, use a sharp knife and cut horizontally with a steady hand to create an even pocket.
- Don't overstuff the chicken breasts—this can cause the filling to leak during cooking.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after cooking to allow juices to redistribute, ensuring maximum moisture.
- If you don't have kitchen twine, toothpicks work great for sealing the chicken breasts.
- For a crispy exterior, you can briefly broil the chicken for 1-2 minutes after baking.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 450kcal
Carbohydrates: 3g
Protein: 38g
Fat: 32g
Saturated Fat: 12g
Cholesterol: 135mg
