Description
This Easy Chicken Breasts Stuffed With Ham and Cheese recipe combines juicy chicken breasts stuffed with savory ham and melted cheese for a quick, protein-packed, and kid-friendly meal perfect for busy weeknights or special dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, evenly thick
- 4–6 thin slices of ham
- 4–6 oz Swiss or mozzarella cheese, sliced or shredded
- 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Optional Herbs & Spices
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Rinse and pat dry the chicken breasts. Carefully slice each breast horizontally to create a pocket without cutting through completely, creating space for the filling.
- Layer Ham and Cheese: Place a layer of ham slices inside each chicken pocket, followed by generous amounts of your chosen cheese. Avoid overfilling to prevent spillage during cooking.
- Secure the Stuffing: Use toothpicks or kitchen twine to close the chicken breasts securely, ensuring the ham and cheese stay inside while cooking.
- Season and Sear: Lightly season the outside of the stuffed chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and optional herbs. Heat olive oil or butter in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken breasts until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Finish Cooking: Transfer the skillet to a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Notes
- Pound chicken breasts to an even thickness for uniform cooking and easier stuffing.
- Don’t overfill the pockets to avoid cheese leakage during cooking.
- Secure the chicken well with toothpicks or twine to keep stuffing intact and maintain presentation.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure perfectly cooked chicken without drying it out.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking to redistribute juices before slicing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed chicken breast
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: chicken breasts, stuffed chicken, ham and cheese, easy dinner, kid-friendly, gluten free