Blackberry Jalapeno Stuffed Chicken (Printable)
Chicken breasts filled with goat cheese, blackberries, and jalapeno, baked golden and melty.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - Salt and pepper to taste
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Stuffing Mixture
04 - 4 oz goat cheese, softened
05 - 1/2 cup fresh blackberries, halved or roughly chopped
06 - 1 fresh jalapeno, seeds removed, finely diced
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon honey
→ For Baking
09 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil or cooking 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 of each breast with salt and pepper.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, combine the softened goat cheese, halved blackberries, finely diced jalapeno, chopped basil, and honey. Gently fold the mixture together until evenly incorporated.
04 - Spoon the blackberry-jalapeno filling evenly into the pocket of each chicken breast. Secure the openings with toothpicks if needed to keep the stuffing inside during cooking.
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 cheese and drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
07 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is bubbly and melted. The internal temperature should reach 165°F.
08 - Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove any toothpicks before serving. Garnish with additional fresh basil if desired and serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sweet heat combination of blackberry and jalapeno will make you question why you ever stuffed chicken with anything else.
- It looks wildly impressive on the plate but comes together with the effort level of a regular Tuesday dinner.
- That molten cheese pull when you cut into the breast is genuinely worth photographing before you eat.
02 -
- Do not rush the searing step because that golden crust is what locks in the juices and gives the dish its professional finish.
- If your chicken breasts are very thick, pound them slightly before pocketing or the center will stubbornly stay pink while the outside overcooks.
03 -
- Wet your hands slightly before handling the filling so the goat cheese does not glue itself to your fingers like determined paste.
- A toothpick soaked in water will not scorch in the oven, which is a small detail that saves you from picking burnt wood off your dinner.