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Fancy Stuffed Chicken

ChickenGastro-PubOvenSpecial Occasion
Time :50 minutes
Yield :4 servings
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The Scoop

This is exactly what happens when an "I have nothing in my fridge" moment turns into dinner that would make your mom proud.  
You basically stuff chicken breasts with cream cheese, pesto, garlic, mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach (very Italian), then sear them to golden perfection. 
It's so simple to make but dramatic enough to make a boring Tuesday feel like a fab dinner party.
Hack it:
Use flavored cream cheese to add extra complexity to the meal.
If the chicken breasts refuse to stay put, use toothpicks to keep them in place.
Use a cast-iron skillet to make the best crust of your life.
Leftovers:
Use a microwave to reheat, and you're risking a sad meal. Instead, reheat gently in the oven to keep it tender and juicy.
Use up any leftovers: slice or dice and add to green salads or even wraps, or turn them into a burrito with grains or rice.
Also, surprisingly good cold! Straight from the fridge, no judgment.

Ingredients

  • 4 large chicken breasts
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons cream cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup pesto
  • 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup spinach, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons parsley, optional, minced, for garnish

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Use a sharp knife to carefully cut a pocket into the sides of each of the chicken breasts, being careful not to cut all the way through.
  • Sprinkle the salt on the inside and outside of the chicken breasts.
  • In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese, the garlic, the pesto, and the mozzarella cheese and stir to combine.
  • Stuff the cream cheese mixture, the sun-dried tomatoes, and the spinach inside the pockets of the chicken breasts, then secure the pockets with a toothpick if needed.
  • In a large cast-iron skillet or oven-safe skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil.
  • Add the stuffed chicken breasts to the olive oil and sear on both sides until golden-brown, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Bake until the chicken breasts are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 16-18 minutes.
  • Serve the stuffed chicken breasts garnished with the parsley.
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