Cheesy Stuffed Chicken Breast with Zucchini
From McGough's Recipes
Prep | Cook | Total |
---|---|---|
10 Min | 20 Min | 30 Min |
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Olive oil spray
- Toothpicks
Filling
- 1 6-ounce zucchini, grated and squeezed dry
- 1 1/2 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded*
- 1 1/2 ounces 1/3 less fat, block, not tub cream cheese, softened
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Use a sharp knife to slice a pocket into the side of each chicken breast. Make sure you don’t cut all the way through, just enough to create a place for the zucchini mixture to go.
- In a medium bowl combine the zucchini filling ingredients.
- Divide the zucchini mixture between the chicken breasts and stuff into each. Skewer each breast along the seam with toothpicks to keep the filling in place.
- In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- Season both sides of each chicken breast with the spice mixture and set aside.
- Heat a large, oven-safe or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Spray evenly with olive oil then sear the chicken breasts on each side, for about 2 to 3 minutes, until browned. A large spatula works well here to flip the breasts while keeping the filling intact.
- Transfer skillet to oven to finish cooking, about 12 to 15 minutes, until chicken reaches 165 degrees F. Alternatively, you can place seared stuffed breasts on a parchment lined sheet pan before placing in the oven.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before eating. (Don’t worry if the filling oozes out a little. The crispy bits are delicious.) Remove toothpicks and enjoy!