Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Pimiento Cheese

  Posted on April 10, 2012  by Leslie Blythe  No comments

My friend, Mary Ann, asked me to post some easy, healthy weeknight meals.  Here is one I found in EatingWell magazine.  This recipe fits the bill.  It’s diabetes appropriate, heart healthy, low calorie,  low carb, low  in saturated fat, low sodium and to top it all off gluten free!

Stuffing boneless, skinless chicken breasts with pimientos, scallions and cheese gives them great flavor without a lot of effort. Don’t be concerned if some of the filling oozes out while the chicken is baking; just scoop it up from the pan as you serve.

Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Pimiento Cheese

Serves 4

½ cup shredded Gouda cheese, preferably smoked
2 Tbs chopped scallion
1 Tbs sliced pimientos, chopped
1 tsp paprika, divided
4 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1¼ -1½ lbs total), trimmed and tenders removed
½ tsp salt, divided
½ tsp freshly ground pepper, divided
1 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Combine Gouda, scallion, pimientos and 1/2 teaspoon paprika in a small bowl.

Cut a horizontal slit along the thin, long edge of each chicken breast, nearly through to the opposite side, and open like a book. Sprinkle the breasts with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Divide the cheese filling among the breasts, placing it in the center of each. Close the breast over the filling, pressing the edges firmly together to seal. Sprinkle the breasts with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper.

Heat oil in a large oven proof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned on one side, about 2 minutes. Turn the chicken over and transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake until the chicken is no longer pink in the center and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F, about 15 minutes.