Description
Juicy chicken breasts filled with creamy Brie, garlicky spinach, and thyme, seared until golden and finished in the oven for a simple but impressive dinner.
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 6–8 ounces each
6 ounces Brie cheese
2 cups baby spinach
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon dried thyme
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Toothpicks, as needed
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Pat the chicken breasts dry.
2. Heat a small amount of the olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium heat.
3. Add spinach and garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes, until the spinach wilts. Transfer to a plate.
4. Cut a deep horizontal pocket into the thick side of each chicken breast without cutting completely through.
5. Divide the Brie and spinach mixture evenly among the chicken pockets. Secure with toothpicks if needed.
6. Rub the chicken with the remaining olive oil and season with thyme, salt, and black pepper.
7. Heat the skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the stuffed chicken for 2–3 minutes per side until lightly golden.
8. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for about 15–18 minutes, or until the thickest portion and center near the filling reach 165°F.
9. Rest for about 5 minutes before removing the toothpicks and serving.
Notes
Do not overfill the chicken pockets or melted Brie may escape during cooking.
Chicken breast thickness varies, so use temperature rather than cooking time alone to determine doneness.
Camembert can replace Brie.
Kale can replace spinach if finely chopped and sautéed a little longer.
Refrigerate cooled leftovers in an airtight container for 3–4 days.
Wrap cooled portions individually and freeze. For best eating quality, use within about 2–3 months.
Thaw frozen portions overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat covered in a 325°F oven until the center reaches 165°F.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed chicken breast
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 0.8g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0.8g
- Protein: 53g
- Cholesterol: 155mg