
5.0 from 6 votes
Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast
Spinach stuffed chicken breast with cream cheese, easy to make, healthy and so delicious! The meat is tender and the filling oozy and comforting, a real family favorite.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 440 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts Note 1
- 1 small onion
- 3 garlic cloves divided
- 9 oz fresh spinach 250 g, Note 2
- 3.5 oz cream cheese 100 g, Note 3
- 3.5 oz feta cheese 100 g, Note 4
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes to taste
- Fine sea salt and ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 430°F/ 220°C. Lightly brush or spray the baking dish with olive oil.
Cup of Yum
Spinach:
- Finely chop the onion and 2 of the garlic cloves. Wash the spinach in a sieve, shake lightly, but don’t dry it, chop it roughly.1 small onion + 2 from 3 garlic cloves + 9 oz fresh spinach/ 250 g
- Saute: Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a saucepan. Sauté the onion and the garlic until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add spinach and let it wilt.1 tablespoon from 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Remove from the pan and let cool completely (spread it on a larger plate, so that it cools faster).
- If using frozen spinach (45 oz/ 125 g), let it thaw completely and squeeze it very well with your hands to remove the excess water. In this case, leave out the cooking (including the onion) and only add the raw grated garlic clove to the filling.
Chicken:
- Make slits into the chicken breasts taking care not to cut all the way through, only about ¾ way into the meat, using a sharp knife.4 chicken breasts
- Brush or rub the meat with the remaining oil. Mix the seasoning and season the chicken generously on the outside and the inside.1 tablespoon olive oil + 1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder + ¼ teaspoon onion powder + ¼ teaspoon garlic powder + ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes + fine sea salt and ground black pepper
Filling:
- Combine cream cheese, cold spinach, crumbled feta, grated garlic clove, a little salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Mash with a fork until well combined.3.5 oz cream cheese/ 100 g + 3.5 oz feta cheese/ 100 g + 1 garlic clove + fine sea salt and ground black pepper
Stuff:
- Divide the filling into 4 equal portions (eyeballing is fine) and stuff each chicken breast.
- Secure with a toothpick. Don’t forget to remove the toothpicks before serving.
- Bake until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F/ 74°C. Chicken breasts weighing around 6.5 oz/ 180 g will need about 20 minutes, while those weighing around 9 oz/ 250 g will need about 25 minutes. The best way to check is with a meat thermometer; it ensures the meat is safe but not overcooked.
Notes
- cheese: Block-style cream cheese is preferable, as it is
- Chicken breasts weighing between 6.5 oz/ 180 g and 9 oz/ 250 g. I don’t change the amount of ingredients needed for the filling according to the breast size. You might have a couple of tablespoons of leftover filling if the meat pieces are small. They are great as a dip or bread spread.
- Substitute fresh spinach with 4.5 oz/ 125 g frozen spinach. Let the spinach thaw completely (in a sieve) and squeeze very well to remove the water before adding to the cheese mixture. In this case, you can leave out the cooking (including the onion) and only add the raw grated garlic to the filling.
- Cream cheese: Block-style cream cheese is preferable, as it is cold and sturdy.
- Use feta from a block of cheese, not already crumbled feta. You can substitute feta with another cheese; try grated Cheddar, Gouda, or Parmesan.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1chicken breast
Calories
440kcal
(22%)
Carbohydrates
8g
(3%)
Protein
45g
(90%)
Fat
25g
(38%)
Saturated Fat
11g
(55%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
12g
Cholesterol
150mg
(50%)
Sodium
706mg
(29%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 440
% Daily Value*
Serving | 1chicken breast | |
Calories | 440kcal | 22% |
Carbohydrates | 8g | 3% |
Protein | 45g | 90% |
Fat | 25g | 38% |
Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
Polyunsaturated Fat | 12g | 71% |
Cholesterol | 150mg | 50% |
Sodium | 706mg | 29% |
Fiber | 2g | 8% |
Sugar | 3g | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.