Broccoli Cheese Stuffed Chicken (Print View)
Juicy chicken breasts filled with broccoli and cheeses, baked until golden — a flavorful low‑carb main for weeknights.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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
# How to Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease to prevent sticking.
02 - In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper until evenly blended.
03 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Use a sharp knife to carefully cut a pocket into each chicken breast, keeping the sides intact.
04 - Rub each chicken breast with olive oil, then apply seasoning mixture to the surface and inside the pockets.
05 - In a separate mixing bowl, combine finely chopped broccoli, shredded cheddar cheese, softened cream cheese, grated Parmesan, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic. Mix until smooth and evenly distributed.
06 - Evenly distribute the broccoli-cheese filling into the pockets of each chicken breast. Secure openings with toothpicks if necessary to retain filling.
07 - Place the stuffed chicken breasts onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them apart.
08 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until chicken is fully cooked and internal temperature reaches 165°F. The cheese filling should be melted and bubbling.
09 - Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes. Carefully remove toothpicks before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You get all the indulgence of gooey cheese and juicy chicken without any fuss or heavy carbs.
- This dish always gets requests for seconds, especially when the cheese bubbles out onto the pan.
02 -
- Trying to rush the stuffing step inevitably leads to torn chicken pockets, so take your time cutting and filling them.
- Packing the filling tightly gives you that Instagram-worthy cross-section and keeps the chicken extra moist.
03 -
- If your filling starts to ooze out while stuffing, just press it back in and use an extra toothpick.
- Letting the chicken rest stops the cheese from running everywhere the instant you slice it.