Bushra Griffith
Chicken stuffed with broccoli and cheese is a delicious, juicy, and low-carb meal that is sure to be a family favorite. It is a simple dish to make, requiring just a handful of basic ingredients and easy-to-follow steps. This recipe is perfect for getting some veggies onto your family's plates without any complaints, as the creamy cheese mixture masks the green stuff. The chicken is stuffed with a delicious combination of broccoli, cheddar, and cream cheese, then seared in a skillet before being baked to perfection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chicken | Boneless and skinless chicken breasts |
| Broccoli | Fresh or frozen |
| Cheese | Cheddar, Cream cheese, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Spreadable herb cheese, Laughing Cow |
| Other ingredients | Olive oil, Breadcrumbs, Egg, Bacon, Garlic, Salt, Pepper, Paprika, Onion powder, Mayonnaise, Ranch seasoning mix, Sour cream |
| Cooking method | Sear in a skillet, then bake in the oven |
| Cooking time | Sear for 2-3 minutes on each side, bake for 25-35 minutes at 375°F or until chicken is cooked through |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the filling
Chop the Broccoli:
First, you'll need to chop or cut the broccoli into small florets or pieces. The size of the pieces can vary depending on your preference, but they should be small enough to fit comfortably inside the chicken breast. You can use fresh or frozen broccoli for this recipe. If you're using frozen broccoli, make sure to cook it according to the package directions before chopping it into smaller pieces.
Prepare the Cheese:
For the cheese component of the filling, you can use a variety of cheeses such as cheddar, cream cheese, mozzarella, or a combination of these. Shred, grate, or chop the cheese into smaller pieces to facilitate mixing with the broccoli. You can also add other ingredients to the cheese mixture, such as garlic, cream, or sour cream, to enhance the flavor and creaminess.
Mix the Broccoli and Cheese:
In a bowl, combine the chopped broccoli and cheese. Mix them together until they are well incorporated. You can also add other ingredients to this mixture, such as garlic powder, seasoned salt, black pepper, or even hidden valley ranch powder, to taste. The amount of cheese and seasoning you use can be adjusted to your preference.
Create a Pocket in the Chicken:
To stuff the chicken, you'll need to create a pocket or slit in each chicken breast. Use a sharp knife to carefully cut a wide pocket or slit in the side or middle of the chicken breast, being careful not to cut all the way through. You want to create a spacious pocket that can accommodate the filling without overstuffing it.
Stuff the Chicken:
Now, it's time to stuff the chicken breasts with the broccoli and cheese filling. Divide the filling evenly among the chicken breasts, making sure not to overstuff them. You want to leave enough space for the filling to expand and cook through properly. Gently press the filling into the pockets, ensuring it is secure and won't fall out during cooking.
Your broccoli and cheese stuffed chicken is now ready to be cooked using your preferred method, whether it's searing and baking, air frying, or another technique. Remember to follow food safety guidelines and ensure the chicken is cooked to the appropriate internal temperature before serving.
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Preparing the chicken breasts
Next, season the chicken breasts. You can use a variety of seasonings, such as salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, or seasoned salt. Be generous and sprinkle the seasonings evenly over both sides of the chicken. You can also add some olive oil to the chicken breasts, drizzling a small amount over each breast to enhance the flavour and moisture.
Now it's time to stuff the chicken breasts. Prepare your chosen filling, which typically includes a combination of broccoli, cheese, and other ingredients like cream cheese, garlic, and sour cream. Divide the filling evenly among the chicken breasts, stuffing each pocket with a generous amount of the mixture. Be careful not to overstuff, as this may prevent the filling from cooking thoroughly.
Once stuffed, you can secure the chicken breasts with kitchen string or toothpicks to ensure they stay together during cooking. At this stage, you can also choose to bread the chicken by dipping it in egg and then coating it with breadcrumbs. However, some recipes suggest searing the chicken first and then breading it before placing it in the oven.
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Stuffing the chicken breasts
To make chicken breasts stuffed with broccoli and cheese, you'll need to first cut a pocket into each breast, being careful not to cut all the way through. You can then stuff each pocket with your desired filling.
Some recipes suggest cutting a slit in the chicken breast and spreading the filling on one side, before folding the other half over to create a stuffed breast.
You can fill your chicken breasts with a mixture of broccoli, cheddar, cream cheese, and garlic. Alternatively, you can use mozzarella, or a mixture of spreadable herb cheese and cheddar. You could also add some parmesan or ranch seasoning to the mix.
Make sure not to overstuff the chicken breasts, or the filling won't cook all the way through.
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Cooking the stuffed chicken breasts
To cook chicken breasts stuffed with broccoli and cheese, you'll first need to prepare the chicken breasts. Using a sharp knife, cut a wide pocket into the side of each chicken breast, being careful not to cut all the way through.
Next, prepare your filling. You can steam or boil the broccoli until tender, or microwave it with a little water for about a minute. In a bowl, mix the cooked broccoli with shredded cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and seasonings like garlic, salt, and pepper. You can also add other ingredients like sour cream, mayonnaise, or ranch powder to enhance the flavour.
Now, it's time to stuff the chicken. Divide the filling evenly among the chicken breasts, making sure not to overstuff, as this may prevent the filling from cooking through. If desired, you can secure the opening with toothpicks or kitchen string.
Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place the stuffed chicken breasts in the skillet, searing each side for about 2-3 minutes until golden brown. If your skillet is on the smaller side, you may need to do this in batches.
Finally, transfer the skillet to the oven and bake at 375°F for 25-35 minutes, or until the chicken and filling are cooked through. Alternatively, you can transfer the seared chicken breasts to a baking dish and bake for 20-30 minutes.
Your chicken breasts stuffed with broccoli and cheese are now ready to be served!
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Serving suggestions
This chicken dish pairs well with a variety of sides. For a low-carb option, serve it with cauliflower rice or a salad. If you're not watching your carb intake, rice pilaf or white rice are also good choices. You could even mix any leftover filling into the rice.
For a more complete meal, add roasted vegetables or asparagus on the side. If you're looking for something heartier, try bacon-wrapped chicken or chicken stuffed with bacon.
If you want to get creative with your presentation, try serving the chicken on a bed of mashed potatoes or pureed vegetables. This will add a touch of elegance to your dish.
Finally, don't forget that this chicken dish can be adapted to your taste preferences. If you're a fan of cheese, feel free to add extra or experiment with different types of cheese, such as mozzarella, parmesan, or cheddar. You can also wrap the chicken in bacon before baking for added flavour.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need chicken breasts, broccoli, cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or cream cheese), olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic.
Cut a pocket into the side of each chicken breast, being careful not to cut all the way through. Stuff each pocket with the broccoli and cheese filling, then secure with kitchen string or toothpicks.
First, sear the chicken in a skillet for 2-3 minutes on each side. Then, bake the chicken in the oven at 375°F for 25-35 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink.
