Broccoli Cheese Stuffed Chicken (Print Version)

Tender chicken breasts stuffed with broccoli, cheddar and cream cheese, baked to a golden, melty finish.

# Recipe Ingredients:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon paprika
05 - 1 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

→ Filling

07 - 1 cup broccoli florets, finely chopped
08 - 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
09 - 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
10 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - 1 garlic clove, minced

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease with oil.
02 - In a small bowl, mix garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper until combined.
03 - Pat chicken breasts dry. Using a sharp knife, cut a deep pocket into each breast without slicing through.
04 - Rub each chicken breast with olive oil, then coat evenly with the seasoning mixture, including inside the pockets.
05 - In a separate bowl, mix broccoli, shredded cheddar, cream cheese, Parmesan, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic until thoroughly incorporated.
06 - Fill each chicken breast pocket with the broccoli-cheese mixture, securing with toothpicks as needed to hold the filling.
07 - Place the stuffed chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and cheese is bubbling.
08 - Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Remove toothpicks carefully before plating.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This dish packs comfort food flavors without a hint of heaviness or guilt
  • Broccoli and cheese are a match made in heaven—especially when hiding inside juicy baked chicken
02 -
  • Overstuffing the chicken seems tempting but it leads to cheese spillage—less is more for neatness
  • Pre-chopping the broccoli extra fine helped the final texture stay creamy instead of chunky
03 -
  • Let the stuffed chicken rest before cutting so the cheese stays put
  • Adding just a splash of mustard transforms the filling from ordinary to crave-worthy

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