Herb Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Breast: A Flavorful and Elegant Dish

Herb Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Breast is one of those dishes that seamlessly blends simplicity and sophistication. Whether you’re preparing a weeknight dinner or a special meal for friends and family, this dish offers a perfect balance of creamy filling, tender chicken, and aromatic herbs that’s bound to leave everyone impressed. The chicken breasts are tender, juicy, and stuffed with a delectable mixture of ricotta cheese, fresh herbs, and a touch of honey, which adds just the right amount of sweetness. When baked, the filling melts into the chicken, creating a flavorful and rich experience in every bite.

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The beauty of this dish lies in its ability to be both comforting and elegant. Ricotta cheese, known for its creamy texture and mild flavor, combines perfectly with the savory notes of fresh sage and rosemary, creating a filling that oozes with richness. The crispness of the golden-brown chicken skin contrasts wonderfully with the smooth filling, offering a variety of textures that are incredibly satisfying. The dish is light enough to enjoy on a regular weeknight, yet decadent enough to serve at a dinner party. It’s a great option for anyone looking to elevate their cooking without spending hours in the kitchen.

The best part? This dish is surprisingly simple to make. While the concept of stuffed chicken may sound fancy, it’s incredibly straightforward with just a few ingredients and basic techniques. In this article, we’ll dive into a step-by-step guide on how to prepare this mouthwatering dish, explore ingredient substitutions and variations, and provide tips to ensure that your Herb Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Breast turns out perfectly every time.

Ingredients

To create this dish, you will need the following ingredients:

For the Chicken:

• 2 skinless chicken breasts: The star of the dish, chicken breasts provide a lean and tender base for the ricotta filling. Make sure to use fresh, high-quality chicken for the best results.
• 1 tablespoon olive oil: This helps to sauté the garlic and ensures the chicken has a nice, golden brown exterior when cooked.
• Salt and pepper to taste: Essential for seasoning the chicken and the ricotta filling.
• 2 garlic cloves, minced or finely diced: Garlic adds a wonderful aromatic base to the filling.
• ½ cup ricotta cheese: The creamy base for the stuffing. Ricotta is mild, slightly sweet, and provides the perfect texture.
• 1 tablespoon fresh sage leaves, diced: Sage is an earthy herb that pairs beautifully with chicken and ricotta.
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, diced: Rosemary has a pine-like fragrance and flavor that complements the richness of the cheese and the chicken.
• 1 teaspoon honey: A drizzle of honey adds a subtle sweetness to the dish, balancing out the savory flavors of the herbs and cheese.

Optional:

• You may also want to add a bit of Parmesan cheese to the ricotta filling for an extra layer of richness, though it’s not necessary.

These ingredients come together to create a perfect harmony of flavors that will take your chicken breasts to the next level.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Let’s break down the process of preparing this Herb Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Breast so you can easily follow along and recreate it in your kitchen.

Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Baking Tray

Start by preheating your oven to 390°F (200°C). This ensures that your oven is ready when you’re done preparing the chicken and that the chicken will cook evenly. Line a baking tray with parchment paper to prevent the chicken from sticking and make cleanup easier.

Step 2: Season the Chicken Breasts

While the oven is heating, take your chicken breasts and pat them dry with a paper towel. Drying the chicken helps the seasonings adhere better. Once dry, season the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper on both sides. This step is important for building flavor in the chicken.

Next, use a sharp knife to carefully create a pocket in each chicken breast. Be sure not to cut all the way through the chicken. You want to create enough space for the ricotta filling but leave the sides intact so the cheese doesn’t spill out while cooking. The pocket should be deep enough to hold the ricotta mixture securely.

Step 3: Prepare the Ricotta Filling

In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté it gently for about 2 minutes, just until the garlic softens and becomes fragrant. You want the garlic to be fragrant but not burnt, as burnt garlic can turn bitter and affect the overall flavor of the dish.

Once the garlic is ready, remove it from the skillet and transfer it to a large mixing bowl. To the bowl, add the ricotta cheese, diced sage, rosemary, and honey. Stir the mixture thoroughly to combine. The ricotta will take on the flavors of the herbs and honey, creating a creamy, aromatic filling that pairs perfectly with the chicken.

Be mindful not to add too much ricotta to the chicken. While it may be tempting to fill the chicken breasts generously, too much ricotta can cause it to spill out during cooking, creating a mess and preventing the chicken from cooking evenly. Use just enough filling to stuff the pocket, and save any leftover ricotta for other recipes.

Step 4: Stuff the Chicken Breasts

Once the ricotta mixture is ready, carefully stuff each chicken breast with the filling. Use a spoon or spatula to ensure that the ricotta mixture is evenly distributed inside the pocket. Be gentle while doing this to avoid tearing the chicken. If your chicken breasts are on the smaller side, you may have some leftover ricotta filling, which you can save for another dish, like a pasta or a salad.

Step 5: Brown the Chicken

Now that your chicken is stuffed, it’s time to brown it. Heat a little more olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, place the stuffed chicken breasts in the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes on one side until golden brown. Then, flip the chicken breasts over and cook for an additional 5 minutes. The goal is to achieve a crisp, golden exterior before transferring the chicken to the oven for further cooking.

Step 6: Bake the Chicken

After the chicken is browned, transfer it to the prepared baking tray. Alternatively, if you’re using an oven-safe skillet, you can place the chicken back into the skillet and transfer it directly to the oven. Bake the chicken for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C) at its thickest point. You can use a meat thermometer to check the temperature and ensure that the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat.

Once cooked, remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes. This helps the juices redistribute, keeping the chicken moist and tender.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Carefully slice into the chicken breasts, and you’ll reveal the creamy ricotta filling nestled inside. The golden-brown exterior will provide a satisfying crunch, while the rich, creamy filling melts in your mouth. Serve the stuffed chicken breasts with your favorite sides, such as roasted vegetables, a light salad, or mashed potatoes for a complete meal.

Tips for Success

• Choosing the Right Chicken: When selecting chicken breasts, try to choose ones that are evenly sized. This will ensure they cook at the same rate, giving you consistent results. If the chicken breasts are particularly thick, you can gently pound them to an even thickness before stuffing to ensure they cook evenly.
• Making Sure the Chicken is Cooked Through: The key to juicy chicken is making sure it’s cooked all the way through without drying out. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Once it reaches 165°F at the thickest part of the chicken, it’s done.
• Substitute Herbs: If you’re not a fan of sage or rosemary, you can swap them for other fresh herbs like thyme, tarragon, or basil. Each herb will bring a new dimension to the dish. For example, thyme would add a lemony, slightly floral flavor, while basil would lend a sweet, peppery taste.
• Add Some Vegetables: For added flavor and nutrition, consider adding sautéed spinach, mushrooms, or sun-dried tomatoes to the ricotta mixture. These ingredients will blend beautifully with the cheese and herbs, adding complexity to the filling.
• Make Ahead: This recipe is excellent for meal prep. You can stuff the chicken breasts a day in advance and store them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook them. This makes dinner preparation a breeze on busy evenings.

Variations and Substitutions

• Cheese Variations: While ricotta is the traditional choice for this dish, you can swap it out for other cheeses, such as goat cheese, cream cheese, or mascarpone. Goat cheese will add a tangy flavor, while mascarpone will lend an even creamier, richer texture to the filling.
• Gluten-Free Option: For those following a gluten-free diet, this recipe is naturally gluten-free as long as you use a gluten-free breadcrumb substitute or skip the breadcrumbs altogether.
• Baking vs. Searing: If you prefer not to pan-fry the chicken, you can bake it directly after stuffing. Just ensure that the chicken is baked for a little longer to get that golden brown exterior.

Conclusion

Herb Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Breast is a deliciously rich and satisfying dish that will become a go-to in your recipe repertoire. It’s simple enough for a quick weeknight meal, yet elegant enough to impress at dinner parties or special occasions. The combination of tender, juicy chicken, creamy ricotta cheese, and fragrant herbs creates a perfect harmony of flavors and textures that is sure to please. Whether you follow the recipe exactly or make your own variations, this dish is one that you and your guests will enjoy every time.

So, grab your ingredients, preheat your oven, and start cooking. This Herb Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Breast will soon be a favorite in your kitchen, and once you try it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.