Blackberry Jalapeno Stuffed Chicken (Printable)
Juicy chicken breasts filled with goat cheese, blackberries, and jalapeno, baked until 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 without cutting 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 jalapeno, chopped basil, and honey. Gently fold together until evenly incorporated.
04 - Spoon the blackberry-jalapeno mixture into each chicken breast pocket, dividing it evenly. Secure the openings with toothpicks if needed to keep the filling enclosed.
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 rest for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove toothpicks before serving. Garnish with additional fresh basil if desired and serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sweet heat combination of blackberries and jalapeno will make you question why you ever stuffed chicken with anything else.
- It sounds fancy enough for a dinner party but honest to goodness comes together on a random weeknight without breaking a sweat.
02 -
- Do not skip the searing step because that golden crust is the difference between a recipe you make once and one you make every other week.
- Letting the chicken rest after baking is not optional because if you cut in immediately all those beautiful juices end up on the cutting board instead of on your fork.
03 -
- Use the back of a spoon to really press the goat cheese mixture deep into the pocket because the more contact it has with the chicken the better it flavors every single bite.
- A meat mallet helps even out thick chicken breasts before stuffing so the pocket opens wider and the cooking time stays predictable across all four pieces.