Blackberry Jalapeno Stuffed Chicken (Printable)

Chicken breasts filled with blackberry, goat cheese, and jalapeno, baked until golden and melty.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Stuffing Mixture

04 - 4 oz goat cheese, softened
05 - 1/2 cup fresh blackberries, halved and roughly chopped
06 - 1 fresh jalapeño, seeds removed, finely diced
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon honey

→ Topping

09 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

# Step-by-step:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil or nonstick 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 generously with salt and pepper.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, combine the softened goat cheese, halved blackberries, diced jalapeño, chopped basil, and honey. Gently fold the mixture together until well combined.
04 - Spoon the blackberry-jalapeño filling evenly into each chicken breast pocket. Press gently to enclose the filling and secure the openings with toothpicks if needed.
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 a golden crust forms.
06 - Transfer the seared chicken breasts to the prepared baking dish. Top each breast with shredded mozzarella and drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil.
07 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F) and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
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 heat combination will wake up your taste buds in the most delightful way
  • It looks impressive but comes together in under an hour
  • The flavors balance perfectly creamy tart spicy and sweet all in one bite
02 -
  • Use room temperature goat cheese to avoid lumpy filling that might fall out
  • Do not overfill the pockets or the cheese will escape during baking
  • Searing before baking locks in moisture and adds restaurant quality flavor
03 -
  • Pound the chicken slightly thinner before cutting pockets for even cooking
  • Chill the stuffed chicken for 15 minutes before searing to help it hold its shape

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