Goat Cheese & Spinach Stuffed Chicken
Ingredients
2 large boneless & skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon pink Himalayan/sea salt
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 Tablespoons olive oil
¾ – 1 cup sliced mushrooms (or more, if desired)
Filling:
2 oz goat cheese
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup chopped spinach
⅛ cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, stir together goat cheese and garlic. Add in spinach and parmesan cheese and stir to combine.
- Cut each chicken breast ¾ of the way through using a sharp knife to create a pocket.
- Stuff ½ of the filling in each breast and seal ends together using toothpicks.
- Combine the smoked paprika, salt, and cayenne in a small bowl and then season both sides of each chicken breast.
- Preheat oven to 425F. Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat until hot. Carefully add each stuffed chicken breast along with sliced mushrooms. Brown each side (about 5 minutes per side) as you saute your mushrooms.
- Place the skillet into the preheated oven for 10-20 minutes or until the thermometer reads 165F in the thickest part of each chicken breast.
- Remove pan from oven and serve with your favorite sides. Enjoy!
Notes
Serves 2 large or 4 small. Per Serving (based on 2 servings):
Calories: 390
Total Fat: 25g
Total Carbohydrate: 5g
Dietary Fiber: 2g
Protein: 39g
Ingredients Highlights
Poultry Safety Tips
- Raw chicken should NOT be rinsed before cooking.
- Wash hands well before & after handling raw poultry.
- Use separate cooking tools for raw & cooked foods.
- Cooked poultry should reach an internal temp of 165F.
Cayenne pepper is a good source of beta carotene and antioxidants that support the immune system. The key compound in cayenne called capsaicin is also cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, helps prevent kidney stones and speed up metabolism and has beneficial effects on the GI system.
Goat cheese – Unlike cow’s milk cheese varieties that grow stronger and more pungent with age, cheeses made with goat’s milk get milder and sweeter as they mature.
There are over 300 varieties of garlic grown around the world? It is considered both a vegetable and an herb and is clinically proven to support the immune system.
Mushrooms inhibit an enzyme called aromatase, which produces estrogen. The common button mushroom has some of the strongest anti-aromatase activity.
Pure olive oil is high in nutrients including vitamins D, E, K, and A as well as omega-3 fatty acids. For the highest quality, look for organic extra virgin olive oil in dark glass bottles or tins that have an expiry date.
Parmesan cheese is low in carbs and a favorite for adding flavor to low-carb dishes. If using conventional dairy products, look for cheese made with milk from free-range, grass-fed animals.
Spinach is a mild-tasting leafy green veggie that supports healthy bones and eyes and slows age-related decline in brain function. It’s also loaded with vitamin K, which promotes healthy blood and circulation.
Smoked paprika also goes by the name Spanish paprika, sweet paprika, smoked pimenton, or just pimenton. It’s made from peppers that are smoked before crushing and has a rich, smoky flavor.
I thought olive oil had a low smoke point and should not be used for high temperatures like 425. I always use avocado oil for higher temps.