I made a decision to make one thing a little bit totally different for my household this week and WOWED them with this Spinach Stuffed Hen Breast recipe. It was the right approach to make use of up the half bag of spinach and small quantities of shredded cheese hanging out in my fridge (budget-friendly win!). They ended up being juicy, flavorful, and full of numerous tacky goodness. Baked hen, however make it fancy on a funds—don’t thoughts if I do!
This submit incorporates some affiliate hyperlinks, which implies that we make a small fee off gadgets you buy at no further price to you.
Hen is at all times on rotation in my home as a result of it’s fairly reasonably priced and versatile. However as a lot as my household loves my baked hen breasts, I wished to filter some elements and provides them one thing new to attempt. I took inspiration from our spinach dip recipe and blended cream cheese and garlic with leftover shredded Parmesan, mozzarella, and spinach, which I stuffed into seasoned hen breasts earlier than baking. It was a complete hit with clear plates throughout! And to not point out, my children by no means say no to veggies once they’re smothered in cheese, so there’s additionally that. 😉
Right here’s what you’ll have to make this tacky spinach stuffed hen breast recipe:
- Boneless, Skinless Hen Breasts: This recipe makes sufficient stuffing to fill 4 giant hen breasts, about 2 lbs whole. You’ll want to use boneless and skinless hen breasts.
- Cream Cheese: Binds the filling collectively and provides a scrumptious creamy texture. I like to recommend utilizing softened cream cheese, so it’s simpler to combine it with the opposite elements! Let it sit at room temperature for about Half-hour earlier than beginning.
- Shredded Parmesan & Mozzarella Cheese: I solely use a small quantity of every, however they add a ton of tacky taste to the filling. You should utilize freshly shredded or pre-shredded cheese. I had half packs of pre-shredded cheese to make use of up, so I went with that.
- Child Spinach: I exploit contemporary child spinach, however you too can use frozen spinach. Simply be sure that to thaw it first and squeeze out any extra liquid.
- Garlic: I pressed 2 cloves of garlic utilizing a garlic press. This breaks them down and distributes the flavour evenly all through the filling. Should you don’t have a garlic press, you possibly can mince the garlic finely.
- Seasonings: Add garlic powder, crimson pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt to the tacky filling for further taste. I additionally generously season my hen breasts (earlier than stuffing) with Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.
- Olive Oil: Helps the seasonings adhere and provides the stuffed hen breasts a pleasant golden coloration when baked.
What’s the Greatest Technique to Stuff a Hen Breast?
I examined this recipe a bunch of occasions, and every time, I merely lay my hen breast on a reducing board and punctiliously sliced into it with a pointy knife. Simply make certain to not reduce during! I additionally saved the highest and the underside of the hen breast intact as a lot as doable to create a ‘pocket’ for stuffing (see my course of photographs under for a visible). Then, I spooned within the filling earlier than baking.
Some recipes additionally counsel putting a toothpick via the edges of the hen breast to assist maintain the filling inside. I attempted this methodology, and I actually discovered it pointless. It additionally was barely tough attempting to take away the toothpicks after the hen had cooked round them. I personally like the general presentation of the hen with among the spinach filling poking out on the edges!
- It’s rather a lot simpler to season the hen breasts earlier than you add the spinach filling. I season the highest, then flip them over and season the underside earlier than stuffing.
- Be certain the interior temperature to your hen reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer. This ensures the hen is absolutely cooked and fit for human consumption. Nonetheless, remember to test the thickest a part of the hen breast, not the tacky filling, accidentally!
- Allow them to relaxation! Resting is a crucial ultimate step to permit the juices to redistribute all through the hen breast. I by no means skip this step!
- Stretch this recipe additional to scale back prices. This recipe makes 4 giant spinach stuffed hen breasts, which might simply be reduce in half and divided into 8 servings (½ hen breast per serving). It’s already a budget-friendly meal, however that is one strategy to make it even extra economical!
Serving Options
I went for a easy aspect salad to go together with my spinach stuffed hen breasts. It was very easy to throw collectively whereas the hen baked within the oven and was a pleasant distinction to the tacky filling. However for a heartier meal, I feel they’d be scrumptious with rice or mashed potatoes on the aspect, too!
Storage & Reheating
These stuffed spinach hen breasts are at their finest when served contemporary. Nonetheless, any leftovers will be saved within the fridge for 3-4 days and reheated within the microwave or oven till heated all through. If utilizing the oven, I’d add a splash of water or hen inventory to the underside of the baking dish and canopy with foil to stop the hen from drying out. You can additionally attempt freezing them for as much as 2 months, however have in mind the feel of the cream cheese and spinach can change after being frozen and thawed. Thaw it within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.
Spinach Stuffed Hen Breast Recipe
This baked Spinach Stuffed Hen Breast recipe is straightforward, budget-friendly, and the PERFECT strategy to elevate your weeknight meal sport!
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
Filling Substances:
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened ($1.10)
- ⅓ cup shredded parmesan cheese ($0.31)
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese ($0.31)
- 2 cups child spinach, chopped ($0.57)
- 2 cloves of garlic, pressed ($0.08)
- ¼ tsp salt ($0.01)
- ⅛ tsp garlic powder ($0.02)
- ⅛ tsp crimson pepper flakes ($0.02)
Hen Substances:
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning ($0.20)
- 1 tsp salt ($0.03)
- 1 tsp garlic powder ($0.10)
- 1 tsp paprika ($0.10)
- ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper ($0.08)
- 4 boneless, skinless hen breasts (about 2 lbs.) ($10.92)
- 1 ½ Tbsp olive oil ($0.33)
-
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a small bowl mix the spinach filling elements (softened cream cheese, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, chopped spinach, garlic, salt, garlic powder, and crimson pepper flakes). Stir all the pieces collectively till properly mixed and put aside.
-
Subsequent, in a small bowl mix the spices for the hen seasoning (Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper). Put aside.
-
Place the hen breasts on a reducing board. Utilizing a pointy small knife, rigorously reduce a slit within the aspect of every breast about ¾ of the best way via, ensuring to not reduce during.
-
Now cowl the hen breasts with the olive oil on each side. Then divide and rub the seasoning combination on each side of the hen breasts.
-
Subsequent, start stuffing the spinach and cheese filling into the pockets of every hen breast. Divide the filling evenly between all 4 breasts.
-
Place the stuffed hen breasts in a big 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake uncovered for 25-Half-hour or till the interior temperature of the hen reaches 165°F.
-
Take away the hen from the oven and permit it to relaxation for a couple of minutes so the juices can redistribute all through the breast. Serve sizzling and revel in!
See how we calculate recipe prices right here.
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 340kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 31gFats: 22gSodium: 1138mgFiber: 1g
Learn our full diet disclaimer right here.
how you can make Spinach Stuffed Hen Breast – step-by-step photographs
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Whereas the oven preheats, add 4 oz. softened cream cheese, ⅓ cup parmesan cheese, ¼ cup mozzarella cheese, 2 cups chopped spinach, 2 cloves pressed garlic, ¼ tsp salt, ⅛ tsp garlic powder, and ⅛ tsp crimson pepper flakes to a small bowl.
Give all the pieces a very good combine till properly mixed and put aside when you put together the hen breasts.
Subsequent, in a small bowl, mix 2 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, and ½ tsp black pepper. Put aside for now.
Place 4 boneless, skinless hen breasts (about 2 lbs. whole) on a reducing board. Utilizing a pointy small knife, rigorously reduce a slit within the aspect of every breast about ¾ of the best way via, ensuring to not reduce during. One aspect of the hen breast ought to nonetheless be related, making a pocket for stuffing.
Now cowl the hen breasts with 1 ½ Tbsp olive oil on each side. Then divide and rub the seasoning combination on each side of the hen breasts.
Use a spoon to stuff the spinach and cheese filling into the pockets of every hen breast, dividing the filling equally between all 4 breasts.
As soon as stuffed, place the stuffed hen breasts in a big 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake them uncovered within the preheated oven for 25-Half-hour or till the interior temperature of the hen reaches 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to test the thickest a part of the hen breast.
Take away your hen breast full of spinach from the oven and permit it to relaxation for a couple of minutes within the baking dish. This enables the juices to redistribute all through the meat to make them further juicy! Serve sizzling together with your favourite sides and revel in!
