Chicken Stuffed with Spinach, Feta, and Pine Nuts
I saw this recipe on MyRecipes and decided to make it for dinner. I am so glad I did! The chicken was juicy, flavorful, and so delicious. I loved the spinach stuffing with the salty feta and crunchy pine nuts… the combination of flavors and textures was excellent. The chicken was well received by my kids, which is exciting (for me), and my husband and I both really loved it too. I served this stuffed chicken with Orzo with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Pine Nuts, and Basil and Roasted Grape Tomato and Zucchini Topped with Feta and Chives for a delicious and flavorful meal.
How to Make Chicken Stuffed with Spinach, Feta, and Pine Nuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Heat a large OVENPROOF skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil to the pan then add the spinach; cook 45 seconds or until spinach starts to wilt, stirring constantly. Add the crushed red pepper flakes and minced garlic; cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Remove from the pan and set aside. Wipe pan clean.
Combine spinach, feta cheese, pine nuts, basil, and lemon juice together in a bowl, mix until well combined. Cut a horizontal slit through the thickest portion of each chicken breast half to form a pocket. Stuff half of the filling into each pocket. Seal with wooden toothpicks. Season both sides of the chicken with sea salt, freshly cracked pepper, and garlic powder, to taste.
Heat remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook for 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Add broth, scrape up any browned pieces then cover the pan with a lid. Place pan into the oven. Bake for 15 minutes, or until chicken has cooked through. Remove from the oven and let the meat rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving with the pan juices drizzled over the top. Enjoy.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp + 1 tsp olive oil divided
- 3 cups of fresh baby spinach chopped
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tbsp crumbled feta cheese
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts toasted
- 2-3 fresh basil leaves chopped
- 1-2 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
- Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
- ½ cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat a large OVENPROOF skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil to the pan then add the spinach; cook 45 seconds or until spinach starts to wilt, stirring constantly. Add the crushed red pepper flakes and minced garlic; cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Remove from the pan and set aside. Wipe pan clean.
- Combine spinach, feta cheese, pine nuts, basil, and lemon juice together in a bowl, mix until well combined. Cut a horizontal slit through the thickest portion of each chicken breast half to form a pocket. Stuff half of the filling into each pocket. Seal with wooden toothpicks. Season both sides of the chicken with sea salt, freshly cracked pepper, and garlic powder, to taste.
- Heat remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook for 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Add broth, scrape up any browned pieces then cover the pan with a lid.
- Place pan into the oven. Bake for 15 minutes, or until chicken has cooked through. Remove from the oven and let the meat rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving with the pan juices drizzled over the top. Enjoy.
I’m always looking for new ways to make chicken and this looks and sounds like a terrific recipe. Thanks Pam!
I’m sure this paired so wonderfully with that orzo! Now when can I come over for dinner?
That looks quite delicious and very professional. Bravo. Take care Diane
Nice combination of flavors. I love stuffed chicken… it was actually the first meal I ever made for Chris 🙂
Great combination !!! I can wait to start with !!!
” Can’ t” sorry!!!
Never have played with stuffed chicken, but you have definitely sparked some ideas now. Thanks!
Pam, This sounds excellent! My family would love all of these flavors
That looks gourmet, I love it! I haven’t made stuffed chicken like this before.
Stuffed chicken is great! It looks like a wonderful meal.
This sounds delicious! I know my husband will love it, and we’ll see what the kids say! 🙂
That stuffing sounds so tasty! ANd I bet it does go perfectly with the orzo you posted yesterday.
This stuffed sounds great. I love the combination of ingredients that you stuffed the chicken with.
I love the spinach feta filling and I eat chicken almost daily…this is a perfect protein loaded dinner for me.
stuffed chicken is fun! your possibilities are indeed endless, and i like the route you’ve taken. 🙂
Great chicken dish! I think my family would love this one. I put it on the must-try list!!
Is there any sauce that you would recommend pairing this with?
This looks delicious , going to make for dinner tonight.
Thanks
Made this chicken last night and the whole family raved about it. So moist and delicious!! Thank you for another great dinner, Pam!