Blackberry Jalapeno Stuffed Chicken (Printable)
Chicken breasts filled with goat cheese, blackberries, and jalapeno, baked until golden and melty.
# What You'll Need:
→ 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 jalapeño, seeds removed, finely diced
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon honey
→ Baking
09 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch 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 generously with salt and pepper.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, combine the softened goat cheese, halved blackberries, finely diced jalapeño, chopped basil, and honey. Gently fold the mixture together until evenly incorporated.
04 - Spoon the blackberry-jalapeño filling evenly into the pocket of each chicken breast. Secure the openings with toothpicks 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 evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese and drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil.
07 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the mozzarella is bubbly and melted.
08 - Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 3 to 5 minutes. Carefully remove the toothpicks and serve warm, garnished with additional fresh basil if desired.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The sweet and spicy contrast makes people think you spent all day cooking when you barely broke a sweat.
- Goat cheese melts into the blackberries creating a purple hued sauce inside the chicken that looks absolutely stunning on the plate.
02 -
- Do not rush the sear because that golden crust is what holds the whole thing together when you slice into it later.
- I once forgot the toothpicks and watched helplessly as my stuffing oozed out across the baking dish which still tasted fine but looked like a crime scene.
03 -
- Use slightly underripe blackberries because they hold their shape better during baking and provide a brighter tartness that balances the rich cheese.
- Press down gently on each stuffed breast with your palm before searing to create a flatter surface that browns more evenly in the skillet.