Broccoli cheddar stuffed chicken is a family-friendly meal made with butterflied chicken breasts stuffed with broccoli and cheese. They're pan-fried for a nice sear then finished in the oven. Perfect for busy weeknights!
Broccoli cheddar stuffed chicken will quickly become a regular in your dinner rotation. This stuffed chicken can't be easier because it's made in a single pan and ready in about 30 minutes.
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are lightly seasoned and seared on the outside. They're stuffed with gooey cheddar cheese and broccoli, then finished in the oven.
Serve with a strawberry spinach salad or green beans and onions for a complete meal.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Chicken - Stuffed chicken is prepared with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You'll need four single serving chicken breasts, or two large chicken breasts. If using two large chicken breasts, they'll take longer to cook and can be easily sliced in half to feed two.
- Mayonnaise - Readers have substituted the mayonnaise with cream cheese successfully.
- Broccoli - Your broccoli should be chopped into small pieces for easy stuffing. Fresh or frozen broccoli will work in this recipe. If using frozen broccoli, it needs to be thawed first. Frozen broccoli releases water as it thaws and can make the cheese filling watery.
- Cheese - Any freshly grated cheese can be used inside your chicken - gruyere or monterey jack are great choices. Avoid packaged pre-shredded cheese as it's often coated in an anti-clumping powder that adds a grainy texture when melted.
- Seasoning - Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika add a light, savory flavor to your chicken.
- Olive oil - Can be substituted with any cooking oil you have on hand.
Tips and tricks
Best pan to use - I recommend using a cast iron skillet or a stainless steel, oven-safe skillet for this recipe. Make sure your skillet doesn't have a plastic coated handle that makes it unsafe for oven use.
Don't have an oven-safe pan? - After searing on the stovetop, transfer your chicken to any oven-safe dish to finish in the oven.
To prepare large chicken breasts - Chicken breasts have become larger and larger in recent years. If you're using very large chicken breasts for this recipe, they may need to be pounded thin before filling to ensure they cook within the listed times in the recipe card. To prepare large chicken breasts, pound to about 1 inch thickness, then butterfly and fill as directed below. If your chicken breasts are large, one can easily be split in half to feed two people after baking.
How to pound chicken thin - Place chicken breasts onto a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper, then top with another piece of plastic wrap or wax paper. Gently pound using a mallet or wooden rolling pin to about 1 inch thickness.
Cooking time may vary - The cooking time for this recipe depends entirely on the size and shape of your chicken breasts as well as the calibration of your oven. I highly recommend using a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Chicken is cooked through at 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Frequently asked questions
Chicken turns out dry from overcooking. I highly recommend using a meat thermometer instead of relying on time alone. Chicken is cooked through and safe to eat at 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Chicken cooked to a higher temperature will turn out dry.
The cooking time needed for this recipe depends entirely on the thickness of your chicken breasts and the calibration of your oven. If your chicken breasts are thicker than mine, the recipe will take a few minutes longer. If you skip the step of searing your chicken on the stovetop first, the chicken will take longer to cook in the oven. This is because they're missing that initial 4-6 minutes of stovetop cooking.
Broccoli stuffed chicken can be served with a variety of sides like garlic bread, stovetop mac and cheese, or ranch roasted potatoes. For a lighter meal, add some green beans or roasted zucchini.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Broccoli Cheddar Stuffed Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup broccoli florets, chopped into small pieces
- ¾ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Butterfly your chicken breasts by holding your hand on top of the chicken breast and slicing into the side of the chicken breast. Cut from one side to the other, leaving the opposite side intact. The goal is to create a pocket for your filling. If needed, pound chicken breasts to create even thickness. Entire breast (closed) should be about 1 inch in thickness.
- Season chicken breasts inside and out with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
- In a bowl, combine chopped broccoli florets, cheddar cheese, and mayonnaise. Stuff broccoli mixture into chicken, using a toothpick to hold closed if needed.
- In a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil. Add stuffed chicken breasts and sear for about 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until they're browned and release easily from the pan.
- Transfer skillet to oven to finish cooking for anywhere from 15 to 25 minutes, or until chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the center. Baking time depends entirely on how thick your chicken breasts are, so I highly recommend using a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
- Remove from oven and allow to rest for 2-3 minutes before serving.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Sharp cheddar can be substituted with your favorite cheese - gruyere or monterey jack are great choices.
- Fresh broccoli can be substituted with frozen broccoli, but it needs to be thawed first. Frozen broccoli releases water as it thaws and can make the cheese filling watery.
- If your skillet is not oven-safe, transfer chicken to an oven-safe baking dish before baking.
- Readers have substituted mayonnaise with cream cheese successfully.
This is a staple at my house. Often make this for company. So good! I double the spice to rub into the chicken, save a bit and add to the stuffing mixture. One of our favourites
This dish was a home run. My guys loved it. I added a little condensed cream of chicken soup to the recipe so it wasn't so thick. Thanks
Amazing recipe! I needed a quick dinner, so used what I had on hand. Substituted a half of a boursin cheese (garlic and herb) for the mayo plus about 1/3 cup of a mozzarella and cheddar mix. I only added 1/2 cup of broccoli into the stuffing mix, because the chicken breasts were pretty small. After stuffing and pan searing, I placed in a baking dish and surrounded by remainder of the broccoli plus some carrots. Sprinkled with Parmesan. Air fried in oven at 375 degrees for 20 mins. Rested 5 mins before serving. This one’s a keeper! Ideal recipe for prepping early and leaving in refrigerator until meal time. Quick sear and into the oven!
I made this last night!!! It was amazing. I had frozen broccoli I let defrost before chopping smaller, a mozzarella provolone shredded cheese blend, and I used cream cheese. My 15yo son loved it! My younger boys don't really do broccoli (the youngest does but if big brothers say eww he's out) so they had pepperoni and mozzarella stuffed chicken breast. Out of 5 large breasts only 1/2 of one was left over and that was my 1/2. You know portion control and all...🤷
Oh I used American cheese too. Little pieces mixed with cream cheese, broccoli, and shredded cheese. I also put 1/2 a slice on each side of the split chicken breast.
This was a last min meal for us so I changed a few things. I had no Broccoli so I used Mushrooms instead and I used Garlic salt instead of Garlic powder and reg salt!! and for the left overs I had deglazed the pan with butter .. I cut up the chicken into pieces and added more cheese and garlic salt then added 1 can of cream of mushroom soup!!
Can I use ricotta cheese in place of the mayonnaise
I haven't tried it myself, but I bet ricotta cheese would work.
OMG Fabulous!
I'm trying this recipe today.😃🤗
Looks delish!
Can you use frozen broccoli ?
I don't think frozen broccoli would have time to cook through inside the chicken. I'd suggest thawing beforehand. The microwaveable steamed bags of broccoli may be a good choice!
Hey so I have shredded mosserela cheese do you think the taste will be some what amusing...I'm 14 and is learning to cook!!
Hi Jeramiah I think mozzarella cheese would also work! Let us know how it turns out 😀
I'm going to try with a veggie cream cheese. I'll let you know how it turns out!
Use frozen steam in bag and it will chop up beautifully
What can you use if you dont have a cast iron skillet?
You can use any skillet you have on hand! If it's not oven safe, transfer the chicken to an oven safe dish before baking.
I want to make this , do you sear the chicken already stuffed? Or do you stuff it before putting in oven?
Hi Rosanne! I stuff the chicken breasts, then sear, then move straight into the oven.
No comment, just wanted to be on your email list.
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Can u substitute mayo for something else?
Hi Danielle! The mayo adds a bit of creaminess to the filling, so I'd suggest maybe cream cheese or sour cream (but I haven't tried these yet myself). You can also omit it entirely and the recipe will turn out fine 🙂
I used avacado oil mayo, or you could use olive oil mayo. Great taste and better for you.
Great idea, thanks for sharing!
I use whipped cream cheese
Do you use cooked broccoli to stuff in chicken, or uncooked?
I used fresh, uncooked broccoli.
Is the broccoli fresh or frozen?
I used fresh broccoli 😊