Simple Baked Spinach Ricotta Chicken (Printable View)
Golden stuffed chicken breasts with a creamy spinach-ricotta filling, ready in under an hour.
# Ingredient List:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon salt
04 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
→ Filling
05 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
06 - 1 cup fresh spinach, finely chopped (or thawed and squeezed-dry frozen spinach)
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - ½ teaspoon dried Italian herbs (or oregano/basil)
10 - ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
11 - 1 egg yolk
12 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Topping
13 - ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
14 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
# How to Prepare:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil to prevent sticking.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Using a sharp knife, cut a horizontal pocket into the side of each breast, taking care not to slice completely through to the other side.
03 - Combine ricotta, chopped spinach, minced garlic, grated Parmesan, Italian herbs, nutmeg (if using), egg yolk, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Mix until fully incorporated and smooth.
04 - Fill each pocket with the ricotta-spinach mixture, dividing evenly among the four breasts. Secure openings with toothpicks if necessary to keep filling contained during cooking.
05 - Rub the exterior of each breast with olive oil. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
06 - Arrange stuffed chicken in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle mozzarella and additional Parmesan evenly over the tops of the breasts.
07 - Bake for 25–30 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and cheese is melted and golden brown.
08 - Let chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute. Remove any toothpicks, slice crosswise to reveal the filling, and serve immediately.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The ricotta filling stays incredibly moist while the chicken remains tender, never dry like some stuffed chicken recipes
- It looks impressive enough for dinner guests but comes together in under an hour on busy weeknights
02 -
- Squeezing every drop of moisture from your spinach prevents a watery filling that could make the chicken soggy
- Using a sharp knife makes creating the pockets so much easier and prevents the chicken from tearing
03 -
- Brining the chicken in lightly salted water for 30 minutes before stuffing ensures extra juicy meat
- Letting the chicken rest before slicing keeps all those delicious juices inside instead of running onto your cutting board