Sweet Spicy Blackberry Stuffed Chicken (Print)
Juicy chicken stuffed with blackberry cream cheese filling, glazed with honey balsamic for a sweet and spicy dinner.
# Ingredient list:
→ Poultry
01 - 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
→ Blackberry Filling
02 - 1 cup fresh blackberries
03 - 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
04 - 2 tablespoons honey
05 - 1 small jalapeño pepper, deseeded and finely diced
06 - Zest of 1 lemon
07 - 1 pinch of salt
→ Seasoning and Glaze
08 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
13 - 2 tablespoons honey (for basting)
14 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
02 - In a mixing bowl, lightly mash the fresh blackberries. Add the softened cream cheese, 2 tablespoons honey, diced jalapeño, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt. Stir until well combined.
03 - Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Using a sharp knife, cut a pocket into the thickest side of each breast, being careful not to cut all the way through.
04 - Generously fill each pocket with the blackberry cream cheese mixture, distributing it evenly among the four breasts.
05 - In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and ground black pepper. Brush the seasoning mixture evenly over the outside of each stuffed chicken breast.
06 - Place the stuffed chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet. Whisk together 2 tablespoons honey and balsamic vinegar, then brush the glaze over the top of each breast.
07 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F and the juices run clear.
08 - Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Spoon any accumulated blackberry juices from the pan over the top if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast between jammy blackberries and sharp jalapeno creates a flavor that people genuinely remember and ask about weeks later.
- It looks like something from a restaurant menu but the technique is surprisingly forgiving once you get the pocket cut right.
02 -
- If you cut all the way through the chicken breast the filling spills out during baking so take your time with that pocket cut and err on the side of caution.
- Overstuffing seems tempting but the filling expands slightly as the cream cheese heats so a generous but not overflowing amount actually looks better after baking.
03 -
- Toothpicks inserted along the pocket opening keep everything sealed during baking and are easy to remove before serving.
- Brushing on a second coat of the honey balsamic glaze halfway through baking builds layers of flavor and creates an even stickier more beautiful crust.