If you're a fan of Italian flavors but you're sick of the usual chicken dinners, shake things up by baking these super simple stuffed chicken breasts. They've got mouthwatering Italian flavors from the seasonings, garlic, and gooey cheeses!
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepperto taste
Olive oilfor frying
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a small bowl, stir together the garlic, mozzarella, ¼ cup Parmesan, butter, and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning until well mixed.
4 cloves garlic, ½ cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Cut about a 3-inch wide pocket into the thick side of each chicken breast (almost to the other side, but do not cut all the way through).
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Stuff ¼ of the cheese filling into each chicken breast and secure it with toothpicks. Set aside.
Get out 3 shallow bowls for the breading station. In one bowl, mix the flour with a pinch of salt and pepper. Put the eggs in the second bowl. Mix the breadcrumbs, ¼ cup parmesan, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper together in the third.
1 cup all-purpose flour, 3 large eggs, 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add enough oil to cover the bottom of the skillet.
Olive oil
Dip each side of the chicken in the flour, then egg, and finally breadcrumb mixture. Place the chicken in the hot skillet and repeat until each chicken breast is breaded and cooking.
Cook the chicken until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for about 20 minutes or until the chicken is 165°F at the thickest point.
Remove from the oven, let rest for 5 minutes, and serve.
Video
Notes
Chicken: Depending on the size of the chicken breasts, you may need to sear the breasts in batches. They’ll shrink as they cook, so you should be able to fit them all in the skillet for baking.
Don't forget to secure the chicken breasts with toothpicks! If you skip out on the toothpicks, the cheese will all melt out.
Don't over-stuff the chicken. If you breasts are under 6 oz., that's okay! Just use a little less filling and bake for a shorter amount of time, until you reach 165°F.
Searing the chicken is so important, so don't rush it. The golden brown coloration it gets is not just for appearance, but also for flavor.
If you don't have a cast iron skillet, you can also bake this dish in a 9x13-inch baking pan.