Cheesy Chicken Broccoli (Print Version)
Juicy chicken loaded with broccoli and cheese, baked to golden perfection for a satisfying dish.
# Ingredients:
→ Chicken Seasoning
01 -
4 boneless, skinless large chicken breasts (about 2 to 2 ¼ lbs)
02 -
½ tsp ground black pepper
03 -
¼ tsp onion powder
04 -
½ tsp garlic powder
05 -
½ tsp paprika (smoked)
06 -
½ tsp kosher salt
→ Cheesy Broccoli Mixture
07 -
1 ½ cups finely chopped broccoli florets (about ½-inch pieces), blanched and dried
08 -
1 ⅓ cups shredded colby jack cheese
09 -
¼ cup small diced red bell pepper
10 -
1 ½ tbsp mayonnaise
→ Cooking Needs
11 -
2 tbsp olive oil
# Steps:
01 -
Set your oven to 400°F and let it heat up.
02 -
Take a sharp knife and carefully cut a pocket along the side of each chicken breast without slicing through. Use your fingers to gently widen the opening. Set them aside.
03 -
Combine onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Stir it together and put it aside for later.
04 -
In a medium bowl, stir together the broccoli pieces, red bell pepper, shredded colby jack cheese, mayo, and 1 tsp of your seasoning mix. Be careful not to mash the broccoli.
05 -
Stuff each chicken pocket with a fourth of the broccoli mixture. Use 2-3 toothpicks for each chicken breast to hold the filling inside.
06 -
Sprinkle the rest of the seasoning mix over both sides of the stuffed chicken breasts evenly.
07 -
Heat a big oven-safe skillet over medium heat and swirl in olive oil. Sear two chicken pieces at a time for 3 to 4 minutes per side until lightly golden. Take them out and repeat for the others.
08 -
Return all the browned chicken to the skillet, cover it with foil, and bake for 18-20 minutes. The thickest part should hit 165°F when cooked.
09 -
Allow the chicken to rest for about 5 minutes. Remember to remove the toothpicks before serving.
# Notes and Tips:
01 -
To ensure even cooking, choose chicken breasts of similar size and lightly pound them flat before cutting the pockets.
02 -
Thawed frozen broccoli looks great here if you squeeze out the extra moisture first.
03 -
Got cheddar cheese on hand? That swaps in nicely for colby jack.