Baking Cheese-Stuffed Chicken: How Long Does It Take?

Chicken is a versatile meat with a variety of ways to grill, bake, fry, and saute it. One such recipe is cheese-stuffed chicken, which is surprisingly easy to prepare and low in carbs. The cooking time for cheese-stuffed chicken depends on the ingredients used and the method of preparation. For instance, a cheese-stuffed chicken breast with broccoli and cheddar takes 20 minutes to bake, while a cheddar-stuffed chicken breast takes about 30 minutes. The cooking time also depends on the thickness of the chicken. A boneless, skinless stuffed chicken breast should bake for approximately 20 minutes at 400°F or until the chicken is cooked through.

Chicken breast prep

To prepare your chicken breasts for stuffing and baking, you'll need to start by gathering your ingredients and preheating your oven. Most recipes suggest an oven temperature of around 375-425°F.

Ingredients

You'll need boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and you should plan for one breast per person. You can also gather your chosen cheese, seasoning, and any other fillings you'd like to include. Some popular options include spinach, broccoli, red bell peppers, and bacon.

Preparing the Chicken

Before you stuff your chicken breasts, you'll need to create a pocket for the filling. Use a sharp knife to cut a slice through the middle of each breast, being careful not to cut all the way through. You can also try the Hasselback technique, where you make shallow crosswise cuts in the chicken to create pockets for the filling.

If your chicken breasts are too thick, you can use a meat mallet to pound them to a more suitable thickness. Aim for about 1/4-inch thickness.

Seasoning

You can season your chicken breasts with salt and pepper, or try other seasonings like Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, or red pepper flakes. You can also rub the chicken with olive oil or another type of oil before applying the seasoning.

Stuffing the Chicken

Now it's time to stuff your chicken breasts! Choose your filling and place a heaping amount in the centre of each breast. You can secure the filling with a toothpick if needed.

For a simple cheese filling, you can use slices of Swiss, cheddar, or provolone cheese. If you're feeling more adventurous, you can try a mixture of ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese, or get creative with ingredients like broccoli, spinach, or bell peppers.

Roll the chicken around the cheese, folding in the sides, or use the toothpick to secure the filling.

Baking

Place the stuffed chicken breasts in a baking dish or skillet and bake for around 20-30 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink in the centre. The internal temperature should reach 165°F to ensure it's cooked through.

And that's it! You're now ready to enjoy your delicious, cheesy stuffed chicken breasts.

Filling prep

The filling for your cheese-stuffed chicken can be as simple or as complex as you like. The most important thing is to choose a cheese that melts well and that will complement the other ingredients.

Simple cheese filling

For a simple cheese filling, you can use sliced or grated cheese. Choose a hard cheese such as Swiss cheese, or a softer cheese like cream cheese, ricotta, or Boursin. You can also add some Parmesan for extra flavour. If you want a really gooey filling, try a combination of mozzarella, Mexican blend cheese, and cream cheese.

Complex cheese filling

For a more complex filling, you can add some extra ingredients to your cheese. Try one of these combinations:

• Spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and garlic
• Broccoli, red bell pepper, cheddar, and mayo
• Mushrooms, onion, thyme, and Gruyère
• Sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese, and spinach
• Blue cheese, cherry jam, and prosciutto

Preparing the filling

If you are using a simple cheese filling, you can just grate or slice the cheese and it's ready to go. For a complex filling, you will need to do some chopping and mixing. Chop any vegetables, herbs, or meat into small pieces and mix them together in a bowl with your chosen cheese. You can also add some salt and pepper to taste.

Filling the chicken

Now you're ready to fill your chicken breasts. Use a sharp knife to cut a pocket in each breast, being careful not to cut all the way through. Take a generous amount of your filling and stuff it into the pocket. You can use a toothpick to secure the opening if needed.

Your cheese-stuffed chicken is now ready for baking!

Oven temperature

The optimal oven temperature for baking cheese-stuffed chicken breasts depends on the specific recipe and desired level of doneness. Most recipes recommend preheating the oven to between 350°F and 425°F.

For example, the "Cheese-Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts" recipe from Pillsbury suggests preheating the oven to 350°F, while the "Broccoli Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast" recipe from I Wash You Dry opts for a higher temperature of 425°F.

Similarly, the "Cheddar-Stuffed Chicken Breasts" recipe from Betty Crocker and the "Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Chicken" recipe from Healthy Fitness Meals both recommend preheating the oven to 375°F.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the oven temperature and the thickness of the chicken breasts. For instance, the "Broccoli Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast" recipe with an oven temperature of 425°F has a cooking time of 15-17 minutes, while the "Cheese-Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts" recipe with an oven temperature of 350°F requires a longer cooking time of 40 to 45 minutes.

Additionally, the type of oven and the accuracy of its temperature settings can also impact the cooking time. Therefore, it is always advisable to use an instant-read thermometer to check if the chicken has reached the safe internal temperature of 165°F.

Baking time

The baking time for cheese-stuffed chicken breasts varies depending on the ingredients used and the thickness of the chicken. However, on average, the bake time is around 20 to 30 minutes in an oven preheated to between 350°F and 425°F.

For example, a recipe for cheddar-stuffed chicken breasts suggests baking the chicken for 30 minutes at 375°F, while another recipe with broccoli and cheese suggests a bake time of 15 to 17 minutes at 425°F.

It's important to ensure that the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. This can be checked using an instant-read thermometer.

If you're using an air fryer, the cooking time may be shorter. For instance, a spinach and cheese-stuffed chicken breast recipe recommends air frying at 375°F for 16 to 20 minutes.

Additionally, some recipes may require searing the chicken in a skillet before baking, which will add to the total cooking time.

Serving suggestions

The great thing about cheese-stuffed chicken is that it's a versatile dish that can be served in many ways, depending on your preference. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Sides

• Roasted Garlic Ranch Potatoes
• Skinny Baked Breaded Cauliflower
• Classic Baked Potatoes
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Parmesan Roasted Green Beans
• Garlic Parmesan Rice
• Vegetable Rice Pilaf
• Sweet corn cake
• Baked potato wedges
• Green beans almondine
• Smashed brussels sprouts
• Roasted frozen broccoli
• Twice-baked potatoes

Salads

A simple side salad or steamed vegetables complement the richness of the cheese-stuffed chicken. You could also try:

• Asparagus
• Oven-roasted garlic parmesan green beans
• Healthy garlic oven-roasted mushrooms
• Garlic roasted broccolini
• Roasted honey-glazed carrots
• Healthy mashed sweet potatoes

Sauces

• BBQ sauce
• Ranch powder

Other

• Salsa
• Cilantro

Frequently asked questions