Herb Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts With Red Pepper Sauce Recipes

HAM AND CHEESE STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Insert a paring knife into the thickest part of each chicken breast to make a 3-inch-long pocket down the side, cutting in about halfway. Rub the insides of the pockets with 1 tablespoon of the mustard for all 4 breasts. Stuff each breast with 2 half slices of ham and 1 slice of provolone, folding them to fit. Rub both sides of the chicken breasts with the olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and pepper.
• Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until very hot, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the chicken breasts and cook until golden brown and just cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes per side depending on the thickness of the chicken; reduce the heat to medium if the chicken becomes too dark towards the end of the cooking time. Cover the skillet with a lid or a piece of aluminum foil during the last 3 minutes of cooking time to finish cooking the chicken through to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. Check the temperature at the thickest part of the breast without stuffing.
• Transfer the chicken to 4 plates or a cutting board and add the chicken broth and remaining 1 tablespoon mustard to the skillet. Cook, whisking, over medium-high heat until the sauce has reduced by about half, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and swirl in the butter and chopped herbs.
• Depending on the size of the breasts, either put 1chicken breast on each of 4 plates or slice all the breasts and divide among 6 plates. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and serve with Crispy Sliced Roasted Potatoes on the side.
• Serving suggestion: Crispy Sliced Roasted Potatoes, recipe follows.
• Place a rimmed baking sheet in the center rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Thinly slice the potatoes about 1/8-inch thick and toss with the oil, salt and pepper. Carefully spread the slices on the hot baking sheet in a single layer and roast until golden and crispy, turning with a metal spatula occasionally and spreading them out to cook evenly, 30 to 35 minutes.

GOAT CHEESE AND HERB STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Using a paring knife, make an incision in the side of each chicken breast, passing the knife though horizontally to make a slit but not cutting through the other side of the breast. With the paring knife inserted, rotate the knife to carve out a bit more space and create a pocket. Season the outside and inside of the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Lightly beat the egg white in a bowl to break it up, then add the goat cheese, parsley, tarragon, shallots, mustard and lemon zest and mix until incorporated. Transfer the mixture to a resealable plastic bag (or piping bag). Snip off a corner of the plastic bag and pipe the mixture into each chicken breast until filled.
• Heat the oil in a large ovenproof saute pan over medium-high heat until hot and glistening. Add the chicken breasts skin-side down and cook until the skin turns a dark golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the butter, garlic and thyme, then flip and transfer the pan to the oven; cook the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F, about 10 minutes. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

LEEK AND HERB STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a small skillet, saute leeks in oil until almost tender. Add the rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper; saute 1 minute longer. Remove from the heat; cool., Flatten each chicken breast half to 1/4-in. thickness; top with leek mixture. Roll up and secure with toothpicks. , In a small shallow bowl, combine the pecans, bread crumbs, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. Brush mustard over chicken, then coat with pecan mixture. Place seam side down in a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. Drizzle with oil. , Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink. Discard toothpicks.

GOAT CHEESE AND HERB-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Divide the chicken breasts in half, removing the cartilage. Loosen the skin from the meat by running a finger underneath the skin.
• Combine the goat cheese, herbs, garlic and pepper.
• Place a generous tablespoon of the cheese mixture between the skin and the meat of each breast. Replace the skin over the cheese and tuck all the edges of the meat and skin under to form a neat package. Arrange the breasts in a large roasting pan.
• Brush the chicken with the olive oil.
• Roast for 25 to 35 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove to a warm platter.
• Pour off the fat from the roasting pan. Place the pan over medium-high heat. Add the wine and deglaze, scraping up bits of cheese and blending with the wine. Serve the chicken with this sauce on the side.

HERB-STUFFED RED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut tops off peppers; remove seeds. Place peppers and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave on high for 2-3 minutes or until crisp-tender; set aside., In a small skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Remove from the heat; stir in the rice, parsley, salt, cayenne and allspice. , In a small saucepan, bring tomato sauce and broth to a boil. Stir in the vinegar, basil and 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese; stir about 1/2 cup sauce into rice mixture. Spoon into peppers. Place in a greased shallow 1-qt. baking dish., Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes or until peppers are tender. Serve with remaining sauce.

CREAM CHEESE & HERB STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degres F.
• Flatten open chicken breasts; spread 1 tablespoon of cream cheese on one half of each breast (resist the temptation to use more-- a little cream cheese goes a looooooong way!).
• Evenly distribute the fresh herbs on top of that and season with salt and pepper.
• "Fold"the chicken breasts back up and press tightly, tucking in cream cheese a bit.
• In a shallow dish, combine the 1/2 teaspoons salt and pepper, paprika and flour.
• In another dish, pour the beaten egg mixture.
• In a third dish, combine bread crumbs, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese.
• First dip chicken breasts in flour mixture, then beaten egg mixture, then bread crumb mixture.
• Place chicken on a lightly greased baking sheet, drizzle about a tablespoon of melted butter on each breast and bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until cooked through and tender.

HERB CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH RED PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Sauce:.
• Char bell peppers over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Wrap in paper bag and let stand 10 minutes. Peel and seed peppers. Puree peppers in processor until smooth. Transfer puree to heavy small saucepan. Add whipping cream and chicken broth. Boil until reduced to 1 cup, about 4 minutes. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.).
• Chicken:.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Mix cream cheese and tarragon in small bowl to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pound chicken between sheets of plastic wrap to 1/4-inch thickness. Spread 2 T cheese mixture over each breast, leaving 1/2-inch border on all sides. Starting at 1 short end, roll up each breast. Secure seam and ends with toothpicks. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.
• Heat olive oil in heavy large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until brown on all sides, about 4 minutes. Pour white wine around chicken. Transfer skillet to oven; bake until chicken is cooked through about 10 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to work surface. Remove toothpicks. Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch-wide slices. Bring sauce to simmer. Spoon sauce onto plates. Arrange chicken atop sauce and serve.