Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast
Published 8/20/2023 • Updated 3/22/2024
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Ready in under and hour, the whole family will love this dinner recipe for broccoli and cheese stuffed chicken breast. Seared then baked, each stuffed chicken breast stays moist on the inside with a nice crisp on the outside.
These stuffed chicken breasts were inspired by a frozen stuffed chicken my mom used to buy when we were kids. I remember they were pre-baked and pre-packaged and all you had to do was thaw and bake them! They would ooze with cheese and were so tasty. These are a homemade, better-for-you variation of that frozen dinner.
If you’re in a dinner rut, mix things up with this protein-packed stuffed chicken breast recipe. Each breast is coated with a dry rub, filled with a creamy and cheesy broccoli filling, and cooked to golden perfection.
Whenever we make our stuffed chicken (or stuffed pork chop) recipes, we’re always in awe of how simple they are to make yet how fancy they look. Stuffed chicken breasts are impressive enough for a celebratory meal and simple enough for a weeknight dinner. No matter the occasion, these chicken breasts are packed with flavor and cheesy goodness everyone enjoys!
Featured Comment
“Absolutely delicious! Made it for my mother-in-laws birthday and everybody loved it 🙂 Thanks for making me look like a professional chef!” – Catherine
What You Need for Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast
There are 2 parts to this stuffed chicken breast recipe – the chicken and the filling. Here’s what you need for each:
Chicken & Dry Rub
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (this recipe makes 4)
- Dry rub spices including garlic powder, chili powder, dried thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper
- Olive oil (or avocado oil)
Broccoli & cheese stuffing
- We like to use shredded cheddar cheese, but feel free to use shredded Colby jack, white cheddar, or even a Mexican blend
- Any percentage of plain Greek yogurt
- Full-fat cream cheese for the best flavor and texture
- Freshly minced or jarred garlic
- Fresh (not frozen!) chopped broccoli florets
Variations
Dry Rub: Feel free to replace all of the dry rub spices with 2 tablespoons of chicken seasoning. It’s our-go to for most of our chicken recipes!
Filling: Instead of a broccoli and cheese filling, try cream cheese + caramelized onions, asparagus + parmesan cheese, our spinach stuffed chicken breast, or caprese stuffed chicken breast.
FAQ
Cut each chicken breast in half lengthwise, leaving the chicken breast connected on one side to create a flap. Make sure to sprinkle the spice rub on all sides of the chicken breast, including in the flap.
Definitely! Follow the recipe through step 8. Cover and refrigerate the stuffed raw chicken breasts for up to 8 hours. When ready to serve, continue with the recipe as written.
These stuffed chicken breasts are cooked through when the internal temperature of the chicken is 165ºF. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is 165ºF.
Yes, this is a healthy stuffed chicken breast recipe and a great healthy dinner option! This stuffed chicken has 49 grams of protein per chicken breast and a serving of veggies stuffed right into the chicken.
Stuffed Chicken Breast Recipes
Try it!
Stuffed Pork Chops
These stuffed pork chops are crunchy on the outside and packed with cheesy mushroom goodness on the inside making these the ultimate weeknight meal.
Try it!
Thermoworks Thermapen
We swear by using a meat thermometer when cooking any cut of meat. The Thermapen is our go-to meat thermometer that works every time.
Storage
Let the chicken breast cool completely, place in an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Can you freeze stuffed chicken?
Once the chicken breasts are baked, let them cool completely before tightly wrapping each breast in plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat: Preheat the oven to 325ºF, unwrap the chicken breasts, and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until warm throughout.
Serving Suggestions
Make stuffed chicken breast a complete meal with:
- Mashed potatoes
- Roasted asparagus or roasted Brussels sprouts
- Grilled corn or grilled carrots
- Superfood salad
- Strawberry quinoa salad
- Rice (white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice)
Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, (~4 chicken breasts)
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Stuffing
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup Greek Yogurt
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 cups broccoli, diced into bite-size pieces
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
- Prepare the spice rub. Add the garlic powder, chili powder, dried thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to a small bowl. Mix with a spoon and set aside.
- Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board and cut the chicken in half lengthwise with a sharp knife leaving the chicken breast connected, but creating a flap.
- Sprinkle the spice rub over the chicken breast on both sides, including in the flap.
- Add the cheddar cheese, Greek yogurt, cream cheese, and minced garlic into a large bowl and mix until combined.
- Next, add the diced broccoli to the Greek yogurt mixture and mix everything together until the broccoli is coated in the Greek yogurt sauce.
- Divide the broccoli mixture into fourths.
- Stuff a chicken breast with 1/4 of the broccoli mixture by placing it in between the flap. Secure the broccoli cheese filling by closing the flap and securing both edges of the chicken breast with 2-3 toothpicks or more until it holds together. Repeat with each chicken breast.
- Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium/high heat. Add olive oil. When the olive oil is fragrant add the stuffed chicken breast to the pan. Sear for 2-3 minutes on each side to brown.
- Carefully place the cast iron skillet in the oven (be careful, the handle might be hot) and bake at 375ºF for 30 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken breast. Make sure it’s at least 165ºF before removing it from the oven. Let rest for at least 5 minutes before eating.
Tips & Notes
- Storage: Let the chicken breasts cool completely, place in an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Freezing Instructions: Once the chicken breasts are baked, let them cool completely before tightly wrapping each breast in plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Dry Rub: Feel free to replace all of the dry rub spices with 2 tablespoons of chicken seasoning. It’s our-go to for most of our chicken recipes!
- Filling Variations: Try cream cheese + caramelized onions, asparagus + parmesan cheese, our spinach stuffed chicken breast, or caprese stuffed chicken breast.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I rarely leave reviews but I love this meal so much and so did my partner. I had to thank you for sharing this smacking family recipe! I used minimal cheese due to preference but it was still BOMB!
Absolutely! Broccoli and cheese stuffed chicken breast is a fantastic dinner option that’s not only delicious but also a breeze to prepare. In just under an hour, you can have a mouthwatering meal that the entire family will adore. The combination of searing and baking ensures each chicken breast remains wonderfully moist on the inside while achieving a delightful crispiness on the outside. Give it a try – it’s a surefire hit! 🍗🧀🥦 #DeliciousDinner #FamilyFavorite
This turned out great. Not sure I love the broccoli in the stuffing, but its ok.
I had a bunch of broccoli in the garden all come ready at the same time, so I needed to shake things up. This recipe was perfect. Fairly easy to prep and make. I could prep it ahead and then cook later in the evening. And everyone enjoyed it — including my picky 4yo — ranking it 8, 9 or 10 out of 10! Served alongside a salad, it’s definitely a repeat.
I did end up with extra filling, so I threw it in a little individual casserole dish and cooked it alongside the chicken. Worked out great!
I added one item which made this dish awesome!! After flipping the breasts in the oven add a large tomato slice coated with Parmesan cheese to each breast. It made this so enjoyable!!
What a great addition, Richard!
Could I substitute spinach for the broccoli? How much spinach would you recommend using?
Hi – I can’t wait to try this recipe! Is it possible to print this without the video embedded? Right now, I unchecked all the print options but the video is still printing. Just thought I would ask 🙂 Thanks for all the great recipes you share with us!!
Hi! We are working on transferring our recipe card to a different one and that one will not have the video in there for the print option. Thanks for bringing this up!
Thank you!!
Absolutely delicious! Made it for my mother-in-laws birthday and everybody loved it 🙂 Thanks for making me look like a professional chef!
Glad these were a hit!
I made this last night with baked potatoes and roasted broccoli. The chicken needed a little longer than 30 minutes in the oven, but the pieces of chicken were quite large. We liked the spice rub and the filling and it definitely didn’t lack flavor. Next time we are going to halve the rub/filling and use boneless chicken thighs and see if it comes out as good.
This is an excellent dinner for Sunday or for guests.