Stuffing food with more delicious food is the culinary equivalent of an edible Christmas present. It is just waiting for you to unwrap it with your fork and knife and enjoy what lies inside. Plus, best of all, Aunt Carol can never wrap one of her homemade knitted ties inside a chicken breast for you!
Put on your fancy pants, it's time to impress your family at dinner time with my Feta and Pesto Stuffed Chicken Breasts! This recipe is so much easier than it looks. It takes no time at all to create the feta pesto mixture, and other than a quick sear in a skillet the chicken breasts are hassle free! All you have to do is stuff them with delicious goodness!
Occasionally I'll dust the exterior of the chicken breasts with seasonings (paprika, onion and garlic powder), but it is largely unnecessary because I rub it with the excess pesto mixture for additional flavor. The feta has plenty of salt in it, so I find it is even unnecessary to salt the chicken.
When posting chicken recipes I hate publishing cooking times (but I do because it's expected). It varies so much by the thickness of the meat and the calibration of your oven. Take them out too late and you'll be eating shoe rubber, take them out too early and you'll be treating your family to a plate full of salmonella... Mmmm! That is why, rather than relying on suggested cooking times, I use meat a high quality meat thermometer to ensure I remove the chicken from the oven at a safe temperature while still at its juicy peak. If you don't have a meat thermometer already, get one. I'd highly recommend the Lavatools thermometers, they are fast, accurate, and carry a lifetime warranty. I use them, and love them.
Feta and Pesto Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 4 Chicken Breasts
- ½ cup Pesto
- ½ cup crumbled Feta
- 1 tablespoon Cooking oil
Instructions
- Add olive oil to skillet and sear chicken breasts on medium high heat until the bottom is nicely browned then flip and repeat.
- Remove from skillet and let rest till cool enough to handle, the inside should still be raw.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Cut a 2" slit into the side of the chicken breast and use your fingers to open a pocket inside the center of the breasts. Be careful not to tear a hole through.
- Mix the pesto and feta together in a small bowl and then fill the chicken breast cavities with the filling.
- Use toothpicks to close the hole opening so filling does not leak out during baking.
- Rub any remaining mixture on the exterior of the breasts.
- Bake in the oven until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, about 25 minutes depending on thickness.
- Remove toothpicks and serve.
Notes
If you enjoyed reading my Feta and Pesto Stuffed Chicken Breasts recipe then you should probably like me on Facebook and follow me on Pinterest too. That’s what I would do at least, because if you don’t get to know me but you still use my recipe it is kind of like taking candy from a stranger, and your mom taught you not to do that. Don’t disobey your mom, subscribe to Fox Valley Foodie today.
Mara
I made this tonight to serve over a bed of saute zucchini, onion and mushrooms. I added fresh thyme to the chicken and vegetable. Great weeknight meal. Thank you
Jeanine
Very good! And easy.
DENISE
Any good pesto brand suggestions
Daniella
Tried this and it is delicious and easy!! Will be making again soon. Stuck a few sweet potatoes in the hot oven too and had a quick side of mashed sweet potatoes to go with. Thanks for sharing!
Fox Valley Foodie
That combination sounds awesome!
CNo
This is a dumb question, but when using a meat thermometer on a stuffed breast, where would I aim to seat the tip? In the lower half below the filling or upper half? Such a slim margin either way cause i would assume I would want it in the meat and not in the filling.
Fox Valley Foodie
Excellent question actually. When stuffing meat the stuffing itself is usually the last thing to come up to temperature. As such, aim for the filling. It is just as important to ensure this comes to temperature as the meat since there will be juices that settle in there.
Judy
Pesto and chicken is a great combination. Putting this in my yummly box!
Fox Valley Foodie
I'm glad you like it! Thanks for the comment!
Heather
Love this idea!! I've stuffed chicken breasts with goat cheese but never feta.. definitely a Must Try!!
Taylor | Perpetually Hungry
Feta + pesto stuffed? Sign me up! This looks amazing - my mouth is watering just looking at the photos!!
Mark
This is a really nice recipe. Great combination of flavors and love the photos.
Ange @ Little Kitchen Blue
These would make a fantastic mid-week dinner when I am in a hurry. Thanks for sharing
Manal
Wow...simple simple simple yet so tasty looking...love the pics and the combination of feta and pesto....I have all ingredients on hand..need to give this one a shot soon...I am pinning it as well.
Jennifer & Trevor @ Show Me the Yummy
Simple perfection! I absolutely love the combo of feta and pesto. 🙂
Kari
This looks really good and would definitely impress dinner party guests - stuffed chicken breasts sounds so fancy
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy
Stuffed chicken breasts are awesome...love serving them for company since they have great flavour and stay so nice and moist.
Fox Valley Foodie
I completely agree!