What’s better than a golden-brown, savory chicken breast baked to tender perfection? How about a golden-brown, savory chicken breast baked to tender perfection and a cheesy, creamy, herbaceous filling? Stuffed Chicken fills every chicken breast with refreshing pesto, melty mozzarella, and bright, juicy tomatoes — it’s a marvel both to behold and to eat! This is a restaurant-level classic that is quicker to make at home. Stuffed Chicken will make you wonder why you ever did regular chicken before this.
Ingredients
For the chicken and stuffing:
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 8 tablespoons prepared pesto
- 8 slices tomato
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup fresh spinach
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the dipping sauce:
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons prepared pesto
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2 –Butterfly the the chicken breasts by cutting them horizontally, but do not cut them all the way through. Open up the chicken breasts and lay them flat.
Step 3 –Spread the entire open surfaces of the chicken breasts with 2 tablespoons of the pesto each.
Step 4 –Add 2 slices of the tomatoes to each chicken breast.
Step 5 –Top each of the chicken breasts with 1/4 cup of the mozzarella and an even amount of the spinach.
Step 6 –Sprinkle each of the layered chicken breasts with the salt and the pepper.
Step 7 –Drizzle each of the chicken breasts with 1/4 tablespoon of the olive oil.
Step 8 –Close the chicken breasts so the filling is on the inside.
Step 9 –Heat an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat.
Step 10 –Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. When the olive oil begins to sizzle, carefully add the stuffed chicken.
Step 11 –Sear the chicken breasts on each side, using tongs to turn them, for 2-3 minutes.
Step 12 –Finish the stuffed chicken in the oven until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F in the thickest part, about 8 minutes.
Step 13 –Combine the yogurt and the remaining pesto, stirring well.
Step 14 –Serve the stuffed chicken with the dipping sauce.