Cranberry Spinach Stuffed Chicken (Printable version)
Chicken breasts filled with sautéed spinach, cream cheese, feta and cranberries, seasoned and baked to a golden finish.
# What you'll need:
→ Poultry
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
→ Filling
02 - 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
03 - 1/2 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
04 - 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
05 - 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
09 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
→ Seasoning
10 - 1 teaspoon paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
14 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking dish with parchment paper or lightly grease the surface.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté minced garlic and chopped spinach until wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
03 - In a bowl, combine sautéed spinach, cream cheese, crumbled feta cheese, and chopped dried cranberries. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, then mix thoroughly.
04 - Using a sharp knife, carefully cut a pocket into the thickest side of each chicken breast, making sure not to cut through the opposite side.
05 - Evenly distribute the spinach-cheese filling into the pockets of each chicken breast. Secure openings with toothpicks if necessary.
06 - In a small bowl, combine paprika, dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Brush chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then sprinkle seasoning mixture evenly over all sides.
07 - Arrange the stuffed chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked and juices run clear (internal temperature should reach 165°F/74°C).
08 - Remove toothpicks from the chicken. Allow the chicken breasts to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The pockets of creamy cheese and cranberries turn weeknight chicken into a meal everyone claims seconds for.
- You can make the filling ahead of time, which means a beautiful dinner without any panic.
02 -
- I once tried to rush and overstuffed the chicken—result: filling explosion and uneven cooking.
- Using softened, not cold, cream cheese made melding the filling a breeze and prevented lumps.
03 -
- If the filling tries to escape during baking, tuck it back in with a spoon as soon as it comes out of the oven.
- Mixing the spinach filling ahead of time lets the flavors meld and makes stuffing quicker when you’re ready to cook.