Pesto and Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts
- 1 1/2 tablespoons basil pesto basil
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese low-fat
- 1 x black pepper to taste
- 24 ounces chicken breasts 4 6oz breasts
- 1 large egg whites
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs, whole wheat
- 3 teaspoons olive oil
- Coat a rimmed baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
- In a small bowl, combine the pesto, cream cheese and a few grinding of black pepper.
- Mix together thoroughly with a spoon.
- In the larger end of the chicken breast; use a small thin sharp knife to cut a slit.
- Carefully cut/tease (leaving the entry slit as small as possible) a pocket into the chicken breast being careful not to cut all the way through.
- Making the pocket this way instead of cutting horizontally helps to keep the filling from leaking out of the breast when cooking.
- Using a small spoon stuff 1/4 of the pesto and cream cheese filling into each of the chicken breasts.
- Press together the cut to seal and secure with a toothpick if needed.
- (A bit of salt on the cut with help to glue it together.
- Dry and season the breasts with salt and pepper if desired.
- Beat the egg white with a fork on a small plate and place the breadcrumbs onto another plate.
- Dip each chicken breast into the egg white and then into the bread crumbs, pressing to help adhere the bread crumbs to the chicken breast.
- Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
- Make sure the pan is hot before proceeding.
- Brown the chicken breast on one side (the nicest looking side), about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Place the chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet, browned side up.
- Bake until the chicken is cooked through.
- The center should reach 170 degrees F when checked with an instant read thermometer, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Allow to rest for 5 minutes and serve.
- The filling will be hot.
basil pesto basil, cream cheese, black pepper, chicken breasts, egg whites, bread crumbs, olive oil
Taken from recipeland.com/recipe/v/pesto-cream-cheese-stuffed-chic-53220 (may not work)