This Italian Stuffed Chicken Breasts Recipe is not that hard to make. Often times we are intimidated by the looks of a dish. But surprisingly, it only takes about 15 minutes to prepare and another 15 to cook. Try out this chicken breast recipe right now!
Easy chicken recipes like these will surely be a big hit with the entire family at the dinner table. Best part about this recipe is the gooey mozzarella!
WHAT SIZE CHICKEN BREAST SHOULD I USE?
Is this a new recipe you are just trying out today and you are unsure what size and how thick is needed? No worries! I have got you covered. Depending on your intended filling and personal liking, the size of the chicken breast you require for stuffed chicken will vary.
Nonetheless, selecting chicken breasts that are sufficiently big to accommodate a decent quantity of filling without being overly thick or thin is an excellent general rule of thumb. These are a couple of guidelines for you to check next time you are making stuffed chicken:
THICKNESS
Pick out chicken breasts with a thickness of between 1/2 and 3/4 of an inch. This level of thickness guarantees consistent cooking of the chicken and facilitates easy filling.
WEIGHT
The average weight of typical boneless skinless chicken breasts are between 6 and 8 ounces, or 170 and 227 grams. This amount of weight is often ideal for stuffing.
BUTTERFLYING
A chicken breast can be butterflyed to reduce thickness and increase filling surface area. To open the chicken breast like a book, butterfly it by slicing it horizontally while maintaining one edge.
HOW DO I KNOW MY CHICKEN IS DONE?
It is imperative that you make sure that your stuffed chicken gets cooked through in order to avoid contracting foodborne illnesses. To help you figure out if your stuffed chicken is done, consider the following suggestions:
1. Internal Temperature
A thermometer for meat is an incredibly precise tool for determining doneness. Excluding the stuffing, place the thermometer in the thickest area of the chicken. The interior temperature ought to be at least 165°F or 74°C for chicken.
2. Clear Juices
The liquids that flow out of a properly cooked chicken must be clear. The chicken requires more time to cook if its juices are pink or have a reddish color.
3. No Pink Flesh
There has to be no pink parts and a transparent appearance to the chicken's flesh. Slice into the thickest portion of the poultry; if any pink appears, cook the chicken more til it is done.
4. Firmness
When touched, the meat should feel tough. It might not have been cooked thoroughly if it feels rubbery or mush.
5. Stuffing Temperature
Make sure the stuffing achieves a recommended temperature of 165°F. Monitor the stuffing's interior temperature with the thermometer.
6. Cooking Time
Although the size, thickness, and filling of the chicken can affect the duration of cooking, be sure to follow the time indicated on the recipe you are following. And then just add a few minutes to it.
SHOULD I POUND THE CHICKEN BREASTS THIN?
It can be handy to pound the chicken breast prior to filling it. Particularly if you would like to make it simpler to roll or wrap the chicken over the stuffing and get a more uniform thickness for even cooking. Additionally, pounding the chicken increases the surface space for the stuffing and softens the meat. I would say to pound chicken if it is too thick.
INGREDIENTS
In order to make this chicken dinner recipe, you are going to need a couple of things. Here is the list of items to make this:
- Chicken Breasts
- Dried Oregano
- Dried Basil
- Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Salt and Pepper
- Tomatoes
- Mozzarella Cheese Slices
- Olive Oil
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Water
HOW TO MAKE CHEESY ITALIAN STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS
Now that you have gathered all of your ingredients, it is time to make this yummy recipe. Follow the instructions below for the best results!
STEP ONE: SEASON THE CHICKEN
The first thing to do is mix all your seasonings. So grab a small or medium bowl and your seasonings. If you have italian seasoning, you can also use that. But, for this recipe, combine the dried oregano, basil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Slice the side of the chicken about 3/4 quarter of the way through to make deep pockets.
Then place and rub some olive oil on top of the chicken, inside and all around. Once that is oiled up, you can now put the seasoning that was prepared earlier.
STEP TWO: PUT IN THE FILLING
It is now time to stuff the chicken. Fill each chicken piece with tomato slices and 2 slices of mozzarella cheese. A great substitute would be provolone cheese or a mozzarella stick if you do not have any mozzarella slices.
STEP THREE: COOK STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS
Get a large skillet and heat it over medium heat. Add in the chicken and cook for 3 minutes on each side or until it gets a golden crust on it.
STEP FOUR: MAKE GLAZE FOR THE CHICKEN
To make glaze for the your dish, pour in balsamic vinegar and water. Stir this together to combine it with the brown bits left on the pan from the chicken.
STEP FIVE: SERVE
Remove this from the fire, transfer to a plate, and serve. For a well-rounded meal, serve it alongside this spinach and lemon pasta recipe for a light, creamy complement. Enjoy!
WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS
This recipe is actually not as high in points as you would assume a “cheese stuffed” recipe would be!
The recipe calls for 4 TBPS of olive oil, and I did figure that amount into the recipe calculator. BUT, I do not believe all the oil is actually being eaten! So the actual points are probably less than figured.
A serving is one stuffed chicken breast. It is 6 points.
ITALIAN STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS RECIPE
Now that you know all about cheesy Italian stuffed chicken breasts it is time to print the recipe or save the recipe. You can print off the complete ingredients and instructions for Italian Stuffed Chicken Breasts recipe via the recipe card below.
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This Italian Stuffed Chicken Breasts recipe is a dish you wouldn't want to miss out on.
- 4 pcs Chicken Breasts
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano
- 1 tsp Dried Basil
- 2 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- Salt and Pepper
- 2 Tomatoes sliced
- 8 Mozzarella Cheese Slices
- 4 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Balsamic Vinegar
- 2 tbsp Water
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In a small bowl combine the dried oregano, basil, paprika, garlic powder and salt and pepper. Set aside.
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Cut a pocket about ¾ quarter of the way through the chicken breasts. Rub the breast with 2 Tbsp olive oil and the spices rubbing some of the seasoning inside the pockets.
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Fill each pocket with tomato slices and 2 slices of mozzarella cheese.
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Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes each side or until golden brown.
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Add the balsamic vinegar and water and stir so the brown bits of the pan form a light glaze.
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Remove from fire and serve.
Each stuffed chicken breast is one serving. There are 6 Weight Watchers points per serving.
If you liked this delicious recipe, be sure to check these other great recipes out:
- Easy Weight Watchers Chicken Casserole Recipes
- Italian Sausage Wraps
- Slow Cooker to Instant Pot Conversion Chart
- 35 Summer Chicken Crock Pot Recipes You Will Love
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