Chicken Breasts Stuffed With Goat Cheese And Spinach Recipes

SPINACH AND GOAT CHEESE STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300.
• In a bowl, mix spinach, goat cheese, lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoons salt and pepper until well combined.
• Lay pounded chicken breast out and place 1/4 of cheese mixture on top. Roll chicken breast and secure with toothpicks (I usually use about 3 each piece).
• Dredge chicken in flour and brown on all sides in heated skillet.
• Remove chicken and place in oven while completing dish.
• Add 2 tbs. oil in skillet and add garlic, onion, thyme, 1/8 teaspoons salt and red pepper flakes. Cook 3-4 minute then add 1 tbs. flour. Cook 1 minute more.
• Whisk in stock and cook 4-5 minute until thickened.
• Add lemon juice, parsley and roasted peppers.
• When plating, slice each breast about 1/2 inches thick and spoon sauce on top.

BALSAMIC GOAT CHEESE STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir shallot until translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour balsamic vinegar into skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until balsamic vinegar mixture is reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Stir often.
• Cut chicken breasts from one side through the middle horizontally to within one-half inch of the other side. Open the two sides and spread them out like an open book.
• Spread half the goat cheese onto one half of each chicken breast and drizzle 1/3 of the reduced balsamic vinegar mixture over the goat cheese. Close the chicken breasts over the goat cheese and secure with toothpicks. Arrange chicken into a baking dish. Drizzle with remaining 1/3 of the balsamic reduction.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the chicken is no longer pink inside, the filling is hot, and the juices run clear, 30 to 35 minutes. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the center of a filled breast should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

GOAT CHEESE AND SPINACH STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In small bowl, combine the spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/8 teaspoon salt., Cut a pocket horizontally in the thickest part of each chicken breast. Fill with spinach mixture; secure with toothpicks., In an 8-in. cast-iron or ovenproof skillet, heat 1-1/2 teaspoons oil over medium heat. Brown chicken on each side. Place in oven; bake 10 minutes., Toss asparagus with remaining 1-1/2 teaspoons oil, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon salt; add to skillet. Bake until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 165° and asparagus is tender, 10-15 minutes longer. If desired, drizzle with vinegar. Discard toothpicks before serving.

SPINACH & GOAT CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium to medium low heat. Add the shallots and cook slowly until softened and aromatic, 8 to 10 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and add the spinach (in batches, if necessary) and wine. Cook, stirring frequently, until the spinach is wilted and all the liquid has evaporated, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the goat cheese, salt, and pepper. Let cool to room temperature.
• If the chicken breasts have tenderloins, remove them. Trim, rinse, and pat the breasts dry.
• Make a pocket on the thicker side of each breast. Using a sharp boning or utility knife, cut into the breast about 1/2 inch from one end. Create a pocket, slicing to within about 1/4 inch of the other side.
• Stuff each breast with about one-quarter of the filling, distributing it evenly throughout the pocket and to the ends. Press on the top of each breast to close the pocket.
• Line up three wide shallow dishes. Fill the first with the flour. In the second, whisk the eggs. In the third, toss the breadcrumbs with 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper.
• Season the breasts generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge one breast well in the flour, shaking off any excess. Dip it into the eggs, turning to coat evenly, and then dredge it in the breadcrumbs, pressing to make the crumbs adhere evenly. Gently shake off any excess. Set on a plate and repeat with the other breasts. Refrigerate for at least 5 minutes and up to 3 hours to let the breading set. Discard any leftover flour, egg, or crumbs.
• Heat the oven to 350°F. Heat the oil in a heavy 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is very hot, carefully add two of the breasts to the pan and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. If the oil seems to get too hot, reduce the heat to medium. Transfer the breasts to a baking sheet. Repeat with the other two breasts.
• Bake until the chicken and filling reach 165°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 15 minutes. Serve immediately.

GOAT CHEESE & SPINACH STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS + MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Use a sharp knife to hasselback each chicken breast, and cut 6 slits into the top of each breast, making sure you don't cut all the way through to the bottom of the chicken breast. Drizzle each chicken breast with a little olive oil then season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Place a large ovenproof skillet over medium high heat and add in ½ tablespoon of olive oil. Add in spinach and season with garlic powder. Cook, stirring occasionally until spinach is fully wilted.
• Transfer cooked spinach to a medium bowl and add in goat cheese. Stir until well combined. Stuff each slit with the spinach/goat cheese mixture.
• Next add a 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet. Add in sliced onions, mushrooms, fresh thyme, optional balsamic vinegar and season with a little salt and pepper. Saute until onions begin to caramelize and mushrooms turn golden brown. Make room for the chicken by moving the mushrooms and onions to the sides of the skillet.
• Add chicken to the skillet, making sure there is a little bit of room between each chicken breast; you may need to rearrange the mushrooms and onions. Transfer to oven and bake for 20-30 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F. Serves 4.

SPINACH AND GOAT CHEESE STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat.
• Add onions and saute until translucent.
• Add spinach and real bacon bits, continue to cook until spinach is wilted.
• Remove from heat to cool.
• Prepare chicken breasts by trimming any visible fat and cutting into the side to form a pouch.
• Once spinach mixture has cooled, crumble goat cheese over it and combine.
• Stuff spinach mixture into chicken breasts and seal with toothpicks.
• Combine breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
• Dip each chicken breast into the beaten egg, then coat well with the breadcrumb mixture.
• Spray each chicken breast with olive oil cooking spray and bake for 30 minutes or until cooked through.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST WITH GOAT CHEESE, BASIL, AND A MUSHROOM SAUCE (FEATURING MEREDITH DAIRY)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream together the Meredith Dairy marinated sheep and goat cheese, basil, thyme, a few shakes of salt and some pepper. (The goat cheese is easier to mix and spread at room temperature).
• Pound the chicken breasts and spread half of the cheese mixture onto half of each breast as shown.
• Fold the ends in, then start rolling at the long end to form a cylinder.
• Tie with kitchen string or use toothpicks to secure the breasts. I've used both successfully, but the toothpicks can sometimes be more difficult to remove.
• Next, put the flour, egg and breadcrumbs (add some salt and pepper to the these) into shallow pans or dishes. Roll in flour, dip in egg, and then in breadcrumbs.
• Pre-heat the oven to 350˚F (175˚C) then heat 2 or 3 tablespoons of the oil from the Meredith Dairy jar in a cast iron skillet or other oven-proof pan.
• When hot, add the stuffed chicken breasts and brown all over. (NOTE: the chicken only needs to be browned on the outside, not thoroughly cooked, as we'll finish it off in the oven next.)
• Turn the burner off and put the cast iron pan into the oven for about 15 or 20 minutes. (While the chicken is in the oven, make the mushroom cream sauce.) Allow to cool for about 5 minutes then move to a wooden board.
• Put the oil and butter in a saute pan, then add the sliced mushrooms. Cook for about 6 minutes, then add a splash or two of white wine and salt and pepper.
• Cook for another 3 or 4 minutes then add the cream.
• Stir well and when it just starts to simmer, remove the pan from the heat and add 1 or 2 Tbsp of butter and swirl around. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. Pour into a serving dish and keep warm.
• Remove the string and cut the stuffed chicken breast into 1/2 inch slices with a sharp knife. Arrange slices on a plate and serve with your desired sides, such as roast potatoes and a vegetable or salad. Adorn with a sprig of basil or thyme.
• Pass the mushroom sauce separately for guests to serve themselves.

GOAT CHEESE AND HERB STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Using a paring knife, make an incision in the side of each chicken breast, passing the knife though horizontally to make a slit but not cutting through the other side of the breast. With the paring knife inserted, rotate the knife to carve out a bit more space and create a pocket. Season the outside and inside of the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Lightly beat the egg white in a bowl to break it up, then add the goat cheese, parsley, tarragon, shallots, mustard and lemon zest and mix until incorporated. Transfer the mixture to a resealable plastic bag (or piping bag). Snip off a corner of the plastic bag and pipe the mixture into each chicken breast until filled.
• Heat the oil in a large ovenproof saute pan over medium-high heat until hot and glistening. Add the chicken breasts skin-side down and cook until the skin turns a dark golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the butter, garlic and thyme, then flip and transfer the pan to the oven; cook the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F, about 10 minutes. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

POACHED CHICKEN BREAST STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Make filling:
• Heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook gently for 15-20 seconds, being careful not to let it color.
• Add the stock and immediately put the spinach in on top of it. Cook, stirring quickly, because the spinach will cook down rapidly. Season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook for about 1 minute, then remove from the heat and spread out on a cookie sheet to cool.
• When cool, transfer to a mixing bowl and gently combine with the goat cheese.Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
• If making in advance, store in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
• Make and assemble chicken:
• Cover the chicken breasts, 1 at a time, with a sheet of plastic wrap and gently pound to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Season with salt and pepper.
• Lay each breast in the center of a clean 12 x 18- or 20-inch piece of plastic wrap.
• Place one-fourth of the cooled prepared filling in the center of each breast.
• Wrap the plastic tightly around the breast and roll up the ends, turning tighter and tighter until the breast is in a cylindrical shape; take care to keep the plastic wrap tight around the roll.
• Once the cylinder is formed, continue to twist the ends tightly until they are well sealed. Set aside and repeat with the other 3 breasts.
• If making in advance, the stuffed chicken breasts can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours or frozen for up to several days. When ready to proceed, allow to come to room temperature.
• To cook the chicken breasts, set a large pot of water over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. Carefully place the wrapped chicken breasts in the water and poach for 15-16 minutes.
• Remove the chicken breasts with tongs and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
• Carefully remove the plastic, using a sharp knife for scissors. Cut the chicken on a bias into 1/2-inch-thick slices and serve.