This easy Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast recipe tastes like it’s from a 5-star restaurant! The creamy goat cheese filling adds amazing flavor and moisture to the chicken and that golden, crispy skin is irresistible! Quick and easy and perfect for weeknights! Love easy chicken dinners? Try my Chicken Stir Fry and Chicken Enchilada Soup!
I am a sucker for goat cheese. On anything, with anything and especially in anything. Particularly juicy pan seared, oven baked chicken breasts. This recipe is as simple as they come and yet tastes like a high end restaurant meal.
We’re talking 6 ingredients including salt and pepper my friends. I made this version with pepperoncini but there are SO many different ways to make this simple stuffed chicken breast recipe so, read on.
What To Serve With Stuffed Chicken Breasts
This recipe is super versatile, so versatile in fact, that there really aren’t any side dishes that I wouldn’t consider serving with this chicken recipe. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Mashed Potatoes
- Baked Sweet Potato (How To Bake Sweet Potatoes)
- The BEST Pea Salad
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Garlic Roasted Potatoes
- Dinner Rolls
- Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
- Funeral Potatoes
- Creamed Corn
- Twice Baked Potatoes
I mean, honestly, I could go on and on and on. Check out these side dish recipes for more ideas.
Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Ingredients
As I mentioned before, this easy chicken recipe uses only 6 ingredients – including salt and pepper! Let’s take a look at what you’ll need:
- chicken breasts – bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts (see below for options)
- goat cheese – you want fresh, soft, spreadable goat cheese for this recipe
- pepperoncinis – finely chopped (see below for variations to try)
- fresh thyme – finely chopped
- salt and pepper
Why bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts? I love the flavor the skin and bone adds to the chicken breasts! So moist and delicious! You can absolutely make this recipe with boneless skinless chicken breasts – see directions below!
How To Make These Stuffed Chicken Breasts
This process is one that I have used countless time to create amazing stuffed chicken. The filling changes from time to time but these easy steps are the ones that I follow. You’ll need about 30 minutes. Let’s take a quick look:
- Combine goat cheese, pepperoncini, thyme, salt and pepper in a small bowl and mash together to combine.
- Cut a slit in the side of the chicken breast on the thick side. You want it to be as deep and as wide as possible, being careful not to cut through the back of the chicken breast.
- Stuff goat cheese filling into the slit, about 2 tablespoons worth.
- Sear in a heavy, cast iron or other oven safe skillet for about 5 minutes before transferring to 425F oven to finish cooking. Flip chicken and let rest for a few minutes before serving.
FAQs
You absolutely can. I generally prefer the flavor of bone in chicken breasts and the crispy skin can’t be beat. That being said, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are convenient and we always have them on hand. If you do use them, make sure to add a couple tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to the skillet before adding the chicken.
The short answer to this is yes, but I don’t recommend it. The skin will never be quite so crispy as it is straight from the oven. It’s worth making just when you plan on eating.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Variations To Try
- I’m guessing you like goat cheese if you’re this far into the post, but if not, or if you just want to try something different, you can substitute cream cheese or mascarpone cheese in it’s place.
In fact, if you have kids that aren’t goat cheese fans, it’s easy to split this recipe using half with goat cheese and half with cream cheese. - Pepperoncini adds a delightful flavor to this dish but I like these flavors and options too:
- olives
- roasted red bell peppers
- pimientos
- green onions
- cranberries
- nuts (we like pecans)
- bacon
- spinach
- Try different herbs! I love the thyme but you could also try rosemary, parsley, etc.
More Chicken Recipes
- Chicken Piccata
- Creamy Mustard Baked Chicken Thighs
- The BEST Chicken Salad
- The BEST Chicken Marinade
- Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Chicken Stir Fry
- Cashew Chicken
- Glazed Honey Balsamic Chicken
How To Make Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 4 ounces goat cheese
- 1/4 cup pepperoncini finely chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves finely chopped
- salt and ground pepper to taste
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts approximately 2 pounds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F degrees. Place a cast iron skillet or heavy duty oven safe skillet over medium high heat.
- In a small bowl, mash goat cheese with a fork until smooth. Stir in pepperoncini and thyme and season with salt and pepper.
- Use a paring knife to cut a slit in the thick side of each chicken breast. Create a pocket carefully using your fingers or the knife making sure to not cut through the back of the breast. Stuff each pocket with about 2 tablespoons of the goat cheese mixture.
- Divide goat cheese mixture evenly between each of the chicken breasts and press into the pockets. Pat the chicken dry on all sides and season with salt and pepper.
- Place chicken breasts skin side down in the heated skillet and cook for about 5 minutes. Carefully transfer the hot skillet to the preheated oven and bake until chicken is cooked through, about 18 to 20 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
- Remove the skillet from the oven and carefully, using tongs, flip the chicken breasts over in skillet and let rest for 3 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with fresh thyme if desired.
Lulu says
It’s cooking now!!! Looks so good!