Stuffing Chicken Breast Ideas

One thing I do in my home is to buy groceries, especially meats, when they are on sale and then I store them in the freezer for later use. Because of this money saving technique, I frequently have fresh boneless chicken breasts ready to use. The first thing I have to remember is to thaw them in the refrigerator a day before I want to use them. Sometimes there are still a few ice crystals remaining in the chicken breasts, which is ok and actually makes them easier to handle and cut.

Start by cutting off any access fat. This will help to remove extra calories. Then, if the chicken breasts are really thick, you may want to pound them a little bit before you slice them for stuffing. To pound a chicken breast, simply place each chicken breast between plastic wrap and pound with the flat side of a meat tenderizer until desired thickness is reached. Next, slit the breasts lengthwise, making sure not to cut all the way through. You should have a little pocket in your chicken breast. This is where you will put the stuffing.

Ideas for stuffing:
In this week’s recipe I chose a variety of items I had at home. You should do the same thing, choose items you have on hand and that your family will like. Below are a few suggestions for making other stuffing for chicken breasts: (remember, the calorie, and nutritional information will change when you change ingredients). These are really easy and can add variety to the same ‘ol chicken breast meal!

• Try stuffing with pesto. You can also wrap the breast in a couple of slices of prosciutto and then bake at 375 for about 20min to 30min.
• Stuff with spinach, olives (black), & Feta cheese.
• Stuff with Goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, & sautéed mushrooms.
• Try wrapping chicken breasts around cubes of Monterrey Jack cheese, spreading with whipped butter with added herbs such as oregano, marjoram, and/or chopped parsley.
• Stuff with roasted garlic (mashed to a paste), layer top of chicken breasts with a combination or all of the following: caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, basil, and parsley. (This is my FAVORITE!)
• Vegetables stuffed into chicken breasts---great veggies to use could be: asparagus, broccoli florets, carrots, all kinds of sweet and/or hot peppers, cabbage, or just let your imagination run wild.

One last thing – almost all stuffed chicken breast recipes have a sauce or cheese added. This is not necessarily needed, it only adds more calories and fat to a great meal. But, if you want to add cheese or a sauce, try finding one that is lower in fat and calories, but maintains the good taste you want.

Now that you know some of the ways I prepare my stuffed chicken breasts, I hope that you will share some of your favorite stuffed chicken breast secrets, ideas, and experiences with me!

Keep Warm!

Dee Lee