Broccoli Cheese Stuffed Chicken (Print Version)
Tender chicken pockets filled with broccoli, cheddar and cream cheese, baked until bubbly for a satisfying low-carb main.
# What You'll Need:
→ 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
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Set aside.
03 - Pat chicken breasts dry. With a sharp knife, cut a deep pocket into each breast, without slicing all the way through.
04 - Rub olive oil and the prepared seasoning mixture evenly over each chicken breast, including inside the pockets.
05 - In a separate bowl, combine chopped broccoli, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic until thoroughly mixed.
06 - Spoon the broccoli-cheese mixture into each chicken pocket, securing the openings with toothpicks if necessary.
07 - Place the stuffed chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet, spaced apart.
08 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the cheese filling is bubbling.
09 - Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes. Remove toothpicks before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- No one ever suspects just how much broccoli you’re able to stuff inside—seriously, it’s like a magician’s trick.
- The melty, savory filling makes the whole dish feel way more indulgent than your average chicken dinner.
02 -
- Overstuffing the chicken always sounds like a good idea, but if you overdo it, you’ll be chasing filling oozing out onto the pan.
- Letting the chicken rest really is the secret to keeping every bite juicy instead of having the filling spill everywhere as soon as you slice in.
03 -
- Lining your pan saves you from major cheese-welded messes on clean-up.
- A sprinkle of extra Parmesan over the top halfway through baking adds irresistible crunch.