Randy Chandler
Chicken breasts stuffed with feta cheese is a quick, easy, and delicious meal that can be made in a variety of ways. The chicken breasts are flattened, stuffed with a mixture of feta cheese, herbs, and sometimes other ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, or bacon, then baked or seared and baked. The result is a juicy and flavorful dish that can be served with a variety of sides and is sure to impress at any dinner party. In this article, we will explore different recipes and methods for cooking chicken breasts stuffed with feta cheese, providing a step-by-step guide to creating this mouthwatering dish.
Characteristics and their Values
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Chicken breasts, feta cheese, breadcrumbs, olive oil, toothpicks, tomatoes, basil, oregano, garlic, shallots, salt, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, Parmesan cheese, panko, Romano cheese, cooking spray |
| Preparation | Flatten chicken breasts, stuff with feta cheese, roll up and secure with toothpicks, coat with breadcrumbs, bake in the oven |
| Cooking Time | 25 minutes to 45 minutes |
| Cooking Temperature | 350°F to 400°F |
| Serving Suggestions | Potatoes, roasted beets, veggies, rice, salad |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Chicken breast preparation
Firstly, select the chicken breasts. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the best cut for this recipe as they are the easiest to fill. Organic chicken typically has smaller breasts, which are ideal for individual servings.
Next, prepare the chicken breasts by flattening them to a 1/4-inch thickness. You can do this by placing the chicken breasts between two pieces of waxed paper and gently pounding them with a meat mallet or a rolling pin. This step ensures even cooking and provides a good base for the filling.
Now it's time to fill the chicken breasts. Place around 1 ounce of feta cheese (crumbled) or tomato-basil flavoured in the centre of each breast. You can also add other ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, basil, or even cream cheese for extra creaminess. Secure the filling inside by rolling up the chicken breasts and securing them with toothpicks.
Before cooking, you can coat the chicken breasts with breadcrumbs for a crispy texture. Simply dredge the chicken in breadcrumbs or sprinkle them on top, along with some dried basil or Italian seasoning. You can also spray the chicken with cooking spray for additional crispness.
Your chicken breasts are now prepared and ready for the next step, whether that's baking, pan-frying, or grilling. Enjoy the mouthwatering flavours of your feta-stuffed chicken!
Cheese-Filled Meatballs: A Tasty Twist on a Classic
You may want to see also
Feta cheese stuffing
Feta cheese is a popular choice for stuffing chicken breasts. It adds a creamy texture and a tangy flavour to the dish. To make feta cheese stuffing, you can start by combining feta cheese with other ingredients such as sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, basil, garlic, olive oil, and even cream cheese. Chop these ingredients finely and mix them well. You can also add in bread crumbs to the mixture to help absorb some of the moisture and provide a crispy texture.
Once you have your desired combination of ingredients mixed, you can begin stuffing the chicken breasts. First, flatten the chicken breasts to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. This can be done by placing the chicken between two pieces of wax paper and gently pounding it with a meat mallet or a rolling pin. Be careful not to pound the chicken too thin, as you want to ensure it can contain the stuffing without falling apart.
Place a generous amount of the feta cheese stuffing in the centre of each chicken breast. You can use a tablespoon or simply eye-ball the amount, ensuring there is enough stuffing to taste in each bite. After placing the stuffing, carefully roll up the chicken breast and secure it with toothpicks to prevent the stuffing from leaking out during cooking.
At this stage, you can also choose to coat the outside of the chicken with bread crumbs, as mentioned in some recipes. This step adds a crispy texture to the final dish. Simply spread bread crumbs on a plate and dredge the stuffed chicken breasts in them, ensuring they are completely coated.
Finally, bake the stuffed chicken breasts in the oven until they are cooked through and no longer pink on the inside. The baking temperature and time may vary depending on the size of your chicken breasts and your oven's settings, but a general guideline is to bake at around 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30-45 minutes. Always ensure the chicken is cooked properly by checking that the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cooking Cheesy Jalapenos: A Spicy, Gooey Treat
You may want to see also
Cooking methods
To cook chicken breasts stuffed with feta cheese, you can use a variety of cooking methods, including baking, pan-frying, or a combination of both. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to prepare and cook delicious stuffed chicken breasts:
Flattening and Stuffing the Chicken:
Start by placing the chicken breasts between two pieces of wax paper or plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet, rolling pin, or the flat side of a heavy pan, gently pound the chicken to flatten it to an even thickness of about 1/4 inch. This step ensures that the chicken cooks evenly and provides a good surface for rolling. Remove the wax paper.
Now it's time to stuff! Place a generous amount of feta cheese (about 1 ounce or 1 tablespoon) in the center of each chicken breast. You can also add other ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, basil, spinach, or garlic to enhance the flavor. If you're feeling creative, experiment with different types of cheese, such as cream cheese or cheddar, for an extra creamy or sharp taste.
Rolling and Securing:
Once the chicken is stuffed, it's time to roll them up. Fold the sides of the chicken breast over the filling and secure it with toothpicks to hold everything together. This step ensures that the cheese doesn't melt out while cooking.
Coating and Seasoning:
For a crispy, golden exterior, coat the stuffed chicken breasts with breadcrumbs. You can use plain or Italian-style breadcrumbs, depending on your preference. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs generously over the chicken, making sure to cover all sides. You can also add other seasonings like dried basil, oregano, or parsley to enhance the flavor. Some cooks like to dredge the chicken in flour or spray the tops with cooking spray before applying the breadcrumbs for extra crispness.
Baking:
Preheat your oven to a temperature between 350°F and 400°F (depending on the recipe and your oven's calibration). Grease a baking dish or pan with oil or butter—a common dish size is a 9x13-inch baking dish. Place the stuffed and coated chicken breasts in the dish, leaving some space between them. If desired, sprinkle any remaining cheese and breadcrumbs over the tops of the chicken breasts.
Bake the chicken for 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken breasts and the temperature of your oven. The chicken is done when it is no longer pink inside and the juices run clear. To check for doneness, you can insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast; the internal temperature should reach 165°F.
Pan-Frying (Optional):
For an extra crispy exterior, some cooks choose to pan-fry the chicken before baking. Heat a cast-iron skillet or an oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add a small amount of oil or butter to the pan. Carefully place the stuffed chicken breasts in the pan and sear for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until they are golden brown. Then, transfer the skillet to the oven to finish cooking, or move the chicken to a baking dish and bake as instructed above.
Serving:
Once the chicken is cooked, remove the toothpicks and let the meat rest for a few minutes before serving. You can garnish the chicken with fresh herbs like basil or parsley and a drizzle of vinegar or lemon juice. Serve with your favorite sides, such as roasted potatoes, beets, or a fresh salad. Enjoy your delicious, cheesy creation!
Quick Ravioli: Cooking Refrigerated Cheese Ravioli
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Serving suggestions
Feta-stuffed chicken breasts are a delicious, flavourful dish that can be served in many ways. This meal is a great option for a dinner party, as it is sure to impress your guests.
One option is to serve the chicken with roasted beets and potatoes. You can also add some extra feta filling on the side as a sauce, thinning it out with crème fraîche or natural yoghurt.
Another option is to serve the chicken with a spinach side dish. To make this, add chicken broth to the skillet after removing the chicken, bring to a boil, and add spinach. Cover and cook for about 3 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted. Remove the spinach from the skillet, repeating with the remaining spinach, and return all spinach to the skillet. Stir in some nuts and lemon juice, and serve the spinach mixture on dinner plates.
You can also serve the chicken with a Greek salad, as the feta and tomatoes in the chicken go well with typical Greek salad ingredients.
Finally, you could serve the chicken with rice, as the juices from the chicken can be used as a sauce for the rice.
Cheese Conundrum: Cooking and Casein Protein
You may want to see also
Recipe variations
There are several ways to cook chicken breasts stuffed with feta cheese, and many variations of the recipe to try.
Firstly, you can choose to stuff the chicken breasts with feta cheese and other ingredients, or simply cook the chicken and serve it with a feta cheese sauce. If you choose the latter, you can fry or bake the chicken and then serve it with a sauce made from feta cheese, crème fraîche or natural yoghurt.
If you want to stuff the chicken breasts, there are several ingredient combinations to try. Feta cheese pairs well with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and garlic. You could also add panko, oregano, parmesan cheese, shallots, and olive oil to the mixture. Another option is to stuff the chicken with feta cheese and bacon, and bake it in an herbed lemon oil.
For a creamier filling, you can add some cream cheese to the feta cheese mixture. Alternatively, you could try a tomato-basil flavoured feta cheese, or sprinkle some Romano cheese on top of the chicken before baking.
Finally, you can choose to coat the chicken breasts in breadcrumbs before baking, or simply bake them as they are.
Cheese Balls: No Egg, No Problem!
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
First, flatten the chicken breasts to around 1/4-inch thickness. Then, place a tablespoon of feta cheese (or more, depending on preference), on each chicken breast, roll them up, and secure with toothpicks. You can then coat the chicken with bread crumbs and place them in a greased baking pan. Bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink.
Feta-stuffed chicken goes well with roasted beets, potatoes, or other vegetables.
Feta cheese pairs well with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and garlic. You can also add some cream cheese to make the filling extra creamy.
No, you can cook the chicken in a pan or oven and serve the feta filling as a sauce. You can thin the sauce with crème fraîche or natural yogurt.
