Description
Succulent chicken breasts embrace delicate asparagus in this elegant French-inspired dish. Creamy herbed cheese and tender asparagus create a luxurious filling that elevates simple ingredients into a memorable meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 4 skinless boneless chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds / 680 grams)
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
- 12 asparagus stalks, ends trimmed
- 1 ounce (28 grams) sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Sea salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Cooking Fat
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C), preparing a cooking environment that ensures even heat distribution for the chicken.
- Arrange chicken breasts on a sanitized cutting surface and generously season each piece with a blend of Italian seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper for robust flavor.
- Using a sharp knife, delicately create a horizontal pocket within each chicken breast, maintaining the structural integrity of the meat by avoiding complete separation.
- Carefully layer a slice of mozzarella cheese with three fresh asparagus stalks and a few chopped sun-dried tomatoes, crafting a compact filling that will nestle perfectly inside the chicken pocket.
- Gently roll the cheese, asparagus, and tomato mixture, ensuring a tight and secure configuration that will fit snugly within the chicken breast cavity.
- Use toothpicks to strategically seal the chicken breast openings, preventing the flavorful filling from escaping during cooking.
- Place a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and drizzle with olive oil, creating a perfect surface for achieving a golden-brown exterior.
- Carefully position the stuffed chicken breasts into the hot skillet, searing each side for 3-5 minutes until a beautiful caramelized crust develops.
- Transfer the entire skillet directly into the preheated oven, allowing the chicken to roast for 15-20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the meat appears completely opaque.
Notes
- Precise cutting matters: Slice chicken breasts carefully horizontally to create perfect pockets without cutting completely through, ensuring stable stuffing placement.
- Strategic seasoning enhances flavor: Blend Italian seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to create a robust taste profile that penetrates the chicken.
- Filling technique prevents spillage: Roll mozzarella, asparagus, and sun-dried tomatoes tightly, then secure with toothpicks to maintain structural integrity during cooking.
- Searing locks in juiciness: Brown chicken in hot olive oil for 3-5 minutes per side to develop a golden crust and seal in natural moisture before oven finishing.
- Temperature precision is crucial: Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, ensuring chicken reaches safe internal temperature without drying out the meat.
- Versatile dish adaptable to preferences: Experiment with different cheese types, herbs, or vegetable combinations to personalize the stuffed chicken experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking/Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg