Chicken Breasts Stuffed With Goat Cheese And Spinach Recipes

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.

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 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.

CHICKEN BREASTS STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large deep pot over medium-high heat, and saute the garlic, shallot, and thyme for 2 minutes, until softened.
• Add the spinach, and saute for 1 minute longer, until just wilted, but still bright green and not mushy.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper, remove from heat, and let cool enough to handle.
• Squeeze about half of the spinach dry using your hands; you should have a tennis ball size mass after squeezing.
• Refrigerate the remaining spinach for another use, and coarsely chop the squeezed ball of spinach.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Spray an 8"x8" baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a small bowl, mix the optional roasted red peppers with the olives, capers, optional walnuts, and balsamic vinegar.
• Combine this mixture with the softened goat cheese, and set aside.
• If desired, divided in quarters, and refrigerate until firm (recommended, but not required).
• Sprinkle both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, and place breasts skin-side down on a flat surface.
• Spread about one quarter of the spinach mixture in the center of each pounded chicken breast.
• Evenly divide the goat cheese mixture among the chicken breasts, placing a piece in the center of each breast.
• Fold the sides of each breast up and around the filling to form a more or less ball shaped package, sealing the bottom of the chicken packages as well as possible without getting fanatical about it.
• Place the chicken in prepared baking pan, pretty side up.
• Brush with about half of the butter, and sprinkle to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cover with aluminum foil, and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
• Turn oven to broil.
• Uncover chicken, brush with remaining butter, and sprinkle with a little optional paprika, if desired, and broil just until the chicken is nicely browned.
• Place the chicken on a serving platter and sprinkle with parsley if desired.
• Serve with brown rice and a spinach salad dressed with vinaigrette and homemade croutons.
• 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.

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.