Blackberry Jalapeno Stuffed Chicken (Print)
Juicy chicken breasts filled with creamy goat cheese, blackberries, and jalapeno, baked until golden and melty.
# What You Need:
→ For the Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - Salt and pepper to taste
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Stuffing Mixture
04 - 4 oz goat cheese, softened
05 - 1/2 cup fresh blackberries, halved or roughly chopped
06 - 1 fresh jalapeño, seeds removed, finely diced
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon honey
→ For Baking
09 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray.
02 - Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Using a sharp knife, cut a pocket lengthwise into each breast, being careful not to cut all the way through. Season the inside and outside of each breast generously with salt and pepper.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, combine the softened goat cheese, halved blackberries, finely diced jalapeño, chopped basil, and honey. Gently fold the mixture together until well combined.
04 - Spoon the blackberry-jalapeño mixture evenly into the pocket of each chicken breast. Secure the openings with toothpicks if needed to keep the filling inside during cooking.
05 - Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the stuffed chicken breasts for about 2 minutes per side until golden brown.
06 - Transfer the seared chicken breasts to the prepared baking dish. Top each breast evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese and drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is bubbly and melted. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F.
08 - Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 3 to 5 minutes. Carefully remove any toothpicks before serving. Garnish with additional fresh basil if desired and serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sweet tart burst of blackberry against creamy goat cheese is the kind of flavor combination that makes people ask what your secret is.
- It looks like you spent hours on it, but the whole thing comes together in under an hour with ingredients you probably already have.
02 -
- Do not rush the searing step because that golden crust is what holds the pocket together and keeps the filling from leaking out during baking.
- I once overfilled the pockets and the filling burst out everywhere, so a generous but reasonable amount is the way to go.
03 -
- Toothpicks are your best friend here, so use more than you think you need because a secure pocket means a beautiful presentation.
- Letting the stuffed chicken rest in the fridge for ten minutes before searing helps the filling firm up and stay put in the pan.