Deluxe Stuffed Chicken Breast

Ingredients:

• 3-4 chicken breasts
• 8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions or scallions
• 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella, cut into small cubes
• 1/8 cup sun-dried tomatoes, squeezed dry (reserve oil)
• 1 cup chopped spinach
• 6 leaves basil, chopped
• 5-6 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 tbsp pesto sauce
• 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Chicken breast seasoning: 1 tsp salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika
• Toothpicks for securing stuffed chicken

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Slice each chicken breast horizontally without cutting all the way through, then open them up like a book. Season inside and out with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, mozzarella, green onions, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, basil, pesto sauce, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning until well mixed (resembling spinach dip).
4. Generously stuff each chicken breast with the filling, then seal them with toothpicks, piercing diagonally.
5. Sprinkle paprika on both sides of the stuffed chicken.
6. Heat an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil and butter.
7. Sear the stuffed chicken breasts until browned on each side, about 3-5 minutes per side.
8. Once browned, drizzle the reserved oil from the sun-dried tomatoes jar over each chicken breast (about 1 tsp per breast).
9. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
10. Remove the skillet from the oven and discard the toothpicks from the chicken breasts. Let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
11. Serve the stuffed chicken with buttered pasta and steamed broccoli. Enjoy your meal!