Sweet Spicy Blackberry Stuffed Chicken (Print)
Chicken breasts stuffed with blackberry, cream cheese, honey, and jalapeño for a sweet-spicy fusion dish.
# What You Need:
→ 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 - 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
# How To Make It:
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 with a fork. Add softened cream cheese, 2 tablespoons honey, diced jalapeño, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt. Stir until well combined and set aside.
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 mixture, distributing it evenly among the four breasts.
05 - In a small bowl, combine olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Brush the seasoning mixture evenly over the exterior 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 generously over the top of each breast.
07 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the chicken is cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F and juices run clear.
08 - Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Spoon any excess blackberry juices from the pan over the top if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast of sweet jammy berries against smoky paprika and a kick of jalapeno makes every bite feel like a surprise party in your mouth.
- It looks wildly impressive sliced open on a plate but the whole thing comes together with a knife and a baking sheet.
02 -
- If you cut all the way through the pocket the filling will leak out and you will end up with blackberry baked chicken instead of stuffed chicken so go slow with that knife.
- The chicken needs to rest before slicing or every bit of that gorgeous juice will bleed out onto your cutting board instead of staying inside where it belongs.
03 -
- Toothpicks inserted at an angle through the pocket opening keep the filling from spilling out and you can remove them right before serving.
- A meat thermometer is the single tool that separates dry overcooked chicken from juicy perfection so invest in one and never guess again.