You won’t believe how quick and easy these spinach and feta stuffed chicken breasts are – but also how phenomenally moist, juicy and altogether delicious! Perfect either for a midweek meal or special occasion, you can make them as they are or add the optional (but highly recommended!) lemon butter sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes.
The spinach and feta combo never gets old around here. This Greek spinach and feta filo pie is eternally popular, these spinach and feta filo parcels are great for parties, and for fusion food lovers I even have Greek quesadillas and Greek mac and cheese (all with spinach and feta the star of the show!).
Wouldn’t you know it, this perfect pairing also makes a fantastic easy stuffing for chicken breasts!
Why you’ll love this
- This stuffed spinach and feta chicken breast recipe can be perfect for either an easy weeknight dinner OR a special dinner party. I even think you could serve it as an easy alternative to your usual Thanksgiving or Christmas roast turkey!
- You only need a few simple ingredients to make this dish. But no one will ever believe it. It tastes and looks so fancy!
- VERY delicious. This method of quickly pan frying chicken breasts stuffed with juicy ingredients like spinach and feta helps keep the chicken beautifully moist.
- Ready in just 30 minutes. This is a SUPER easy stuffed chicken breast recipe since there’s no chopping or pre-cooking of the stuffing ingredients. No dry chicken breasts here!
- Easy to ‘make your own’. Not a fan of feta cheese? Just replace with a different cheese. Scroll down for more ways to adapt the recipe to your taste.
- You can serve it in different ways, from a hearty meal with mashed potatoes and vegetables to a simple topper for pasta or rice.
About the ingredients
Chicken breasts: Small to medium sized skinless boneless chicken breasts are best. If you can only find large chicken breasts, you may need to cook the chicken for a few minutes longer. You can also consider cutting the finished feta spinach stuffed chicken in half and splitting it between two people.
Feta cheese: You can experiment a little until you find your favorite brand. I like the softer, creamier types. An authentic Greek style feta such as Dodoni is great. Soft Danish feta works well, too.
Sun-dried tomatoes: I love the extra flavor that these add to the stuffing! I usually go for strips so that I don’t have to do any extra chopping. Semi-dried tomatoes are fine, too.
Fresh spinach: Fresh baby spinach is perfect for this recipe. You won’t need to chop it or pre-cook it. Also, the leftovers can make a great sneaky spinach salad to serve with your chicken as a no-fuss side! Can you use frozen spinach instead? Sure! Just be sure to squeeze any excess water out of it before using.
Dried oregano: No Greek style chicken dish is complete without oregano in it! However, you can easily replace it with another dried herb such as basil or thyme, or mixed Italian herbs.
Salt, pepper and olive oil: For seasoning and pan-frying.
For the optional but highly recommended lemon butter sauce: Good quality chicken broth/stock, lemon juice, and butter. Yep, that’s it. These combine with the chicken pan juices to make a simple, tasty gravy that will blow your mind!
How to make it
The step-by-step guide below should help you make the recipe perfectly first time. Scroll down to the end for the full recipe including ingredient amounts.
The first easy step is to combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl for the simple spinach and feta stuffing.
Then grab a knife and cutting board (I like a sharp, medium sized knife) and cut a horizontal slit or deep pocket into the thicker edge of each chicken breast. Be careful not to cut all the way through!
Pack the feta and spinach mixture into each pocket. As much as you can! Then sprinkle salt and pepper all over the chicken.
How can you tell I’m not a fan of handling raw chicken? 😉
Heat up the olive oil on a medium high heat in a large pan with a lid. Cook the chicken for about 5 minutes without moving it. Then turn (kitchen tongs are great for this!) and cook for another 5 minutes without moving.
After this time, pop a lid on the pan and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through. You can check if it’s ready by checking with a meat thermometer. The chicken should be 165F/75C inside the thickest part.
Transfer the chicken to a dish and cover to keep warm.
If making the sauce (it’s very easy!), add the chicken broth/stock, lemon juice and butter to the pan that you cooked the chicken in. Stir it into the juices and sticky bits already in the pan.
Remember to also add any juices from the resting chicken. Cook for a couple of minutes until reduced/thickened slightly and you have a simple but very delicious gravy. Mmm!
You can serve the stuffed chicken breasts as they are, cut in half at an angle or even cut into thick slices. Whichever way you choose, serve with the delicious lemon butter sauce drizzled over the top!
Helen’s top tips
- For the most delicious stuffed chicken, pack as much spinach feta filling inside as possible. If you’re worried about it spilling out in the pan, you can use cocktail sticks to secure it while cooking the first side. However, I find that cooking the chicken for about 5 minutes on each side without moving it at first ‘seals’ the filling inside.
- Don’t be tempted to overcook the chicken. You may need to adjust the cooking time slightly depending on how big the chicken breasts are. If you stick to small to medium, the stated time should be enough. The best way to check is with a meat thermometer!
- You can choose to make the tasty lemon butter sauce or not. It does elevate the meal to something pretty special – but with very little extra effort.
- If your chicken breasts are very big, you can cut them in half lengthwise or widthwise if you like. Then cut a pocket into the two halves and stuff as normal.
Serving ideas
One more great thing about these chicken breasts stuffed with spinach and feta is that you can serve them in several ways.
I love serving them with mashed potatoes (try these incredible cauliflower mashed potatoes!) and easy sautéed green beans or another bonus serving of greens such as broccoli or asparagus. Don’t skip the easy lemon butter sauce if serving the dish this way!
Similar to the above, but I just have to mention (again): I actually think this spinach and cheese stuffed chicken would make a great ‘cheat’s’ Thanksgiving or Christmas meal option! Much easier than roasting a whole turkey or chicken, but just as delicious with your favorite roast potatoes (try this amazing Greek potatoes recipe!), honey roasted parsnips and carrots and other holiday sides.
Making this for a quick and easy family meal? Keep things very simple by serving with crusty bread or 2-minute olive oil toasts. Pile any leftover baby spinach drizzled with your favorite salad dressing on the side.
This is also an easy way to keep your easy chicken dinner gluten free and low carb, if either of those qualities are important to you.
You can also serve your delicious spinach stuffed chicken sliced on top of an easy vegetarian rice or pasta side dish. Try this Greek lemon rice or this roasted vegetable pasta salad. Or keep things simple by slicing the chicken on top of plain pasta tossed with some of the lemon butter sauce.
Did you know… ? The sauce can be an easy all-purpose sauce that can be used in many different ways. Read all about it in my dedicated post all about Lemon & butter sauce!
Variations
- Not a fan of feta? You can easily replace it with cream cheese or Boursin, goat cheese, a mixture of ricotta and parmesan cheese, mozzarella, provolone, gruyère, or even blue cheese. Virtually any cheese will work!
- Add chopped artichokes, roasted red peppers, toasted pine nuts, pecans or walnuts, chopped scallions/spring onions, cherry tomatoes, chopped olives or a spoonful of pesto to the basic spinach stuffing mixture.
- Trying adding some cooked bacon, chorizo and/or mushrooms to the stuffing for an extra burst of flavor.
Recipe FAQ
Absolutely, since the stuffing is not cooked. If you’re including anything cooked, such as bacon, just make sure the stuffing is completely cold before stuffing the chicken. Then simply cover the raw stuffed chicken breasts and keep them in the fridge for up to a day until you’re ready to cook them.
Cooked stuffed chicken breasts will keep covered in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
You possibly overcooked them. For small to medium sized chicken breasts, you will only need to pan fry them for about 5 minutes on each side and then another few minutes with a lid on on a medium high heat. To double check they’re ready, just test the thickest part of the breast with a meat thermometer. The temperature should be at least 165F/75C.
To reheat stuffed chicken breasts without drying them out, simply put them in a baking dish and add a splash of broth, sauce or water. Cover the dish with aluminium foil and reheat at 350F/175C for 15 to 20 minutes or until piping hot again (165F/75C inside).
Alternatively, you can reheat the breasts individually in your microwave. Simply add a splash of liquid to the chicken in a dish as in the oven method. Then cover well with plastic wrap and reheat on 80% power for 1 to 3 minutes or until it reaches the correct temperature inside. It’s best to start with 1 minute then reheat in 30-second bursts until hot so that you don’t risk drying the chicken out.
Yes, you can. To bake, try searing on both sides for a minute or two in an oven proof cast iron pan. Then transfer straight to the oven (pre-heated to 355F/180C) for around 15 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meat is at least 165F/75C.
To air fry, rub the outside of the stuffed chicken with olive oil. Then air fry for around 15 to 20 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165F/75C inside.
More easy stove-top chicken recipes
- This 30-minute stove top chicken and rice is so simple. And yet it’s comforting and tasty, thanks to a ‘secret’ ingredient.
- You won’t believe how easy and tasty this creamy pesto chicken is. Ready in just 15 minutes!
- This quick stove top Mediterranean chicken casserole is healthy comfort food at its best.
- We’ve been making this chicken and butternut squash satay curry for literally years, and it never disappoints.
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Easy Spinach And Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Equipment (affiliate links)
Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click below for grams/ml)
- 2 cups baby spinach washed
- 3.5 ounces feta cheese crumbled (about ¾ cup)
- ¼ cup sundried tomatoes (strips or chopped for ease)
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano (or replace with dried basil or mixed Italian herbs)
- 4 chicken breasts skinless boneless (small to medium-sized, if very large consider cutting in half either lengthwise or widthwise)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoons olive oil for pan frying
For the simple sauce (optional)
- 1 cup chicken broth or stock (good quality)
- 1 lemon juice only
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- Add the baby spinach, crumbled feta, sundried tomatoes and dried oregano to a medium bowl and mix well.2 cups baby spinach, 3.5 ounces feta cheese, ¼ cup sundried tomatoes, 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- Slice a deep pocket into the slightly thicker edge of each chicken breast (be careful not to cut all the way through).4 chicken breasts
- Stuff each pocket with as much of the spinach and feta mixture as you can (push it all the way in). Then sprinkle each side of the chicken with the salt and pepper.½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper
- Heat up the olive oil on a medium high heat in a large cast iron pan or skillet with a lid. When it’s hot, put the chicken in. If you have one, cover with a splatter screen. Let the chicken cook without moving it for about 5 minutes.3 tablespoons olive oil
- Now use kitchen tongs to turn the chicken over and cook for about another 5 minutes without moving it. Then turn the heat down slightly, put a lid on the pan and cook for a few minutes longer until the chicken is cooked through. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature in the thickest part of the meat. It should be at least 165F/75C.
- Transfer the chicken to a dish and keep warm, leaving any juices in the pan. Then add the chicken broth/stock to the pan, scraping any sticky bits from the pan into it. Then stir in the lemon juice, butter and any resting juices from the chicken. Cook the sauce for a couple of minutes until it has reduced and thickened just slightly (it will still be quite thin – that's fine).1 cup chicken broth, 1 lemon, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Serve the breasts whole, cut each piece in half at an angle, or slice into three or four even slices. Serve with the sauce poured over the top (if making), and with more baby spinach, salad dressing and bread, or mashed potatoes and vegetables, if you like.
Judit + Corina @ Glamorous Bite says
Helen, your stuffed chicken is just the perfect FEAST for a Sunday Family dinner! Love the pesto + sundried tomato stuffing. You are right, people seem to cook less, even for a Special occasions. It is sad because we have so many delicious memories which we could not live without. Gorgeous photos 🙂
Cheers,
J+C
Helen says
Yes, we’ve got too used to going out to eat, haven’t we? So glad you like this and thanks so much for the compliment on the photos. I take that as a huge compliment coming from you! 🙂
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
wow this stuffed chicken looks amazing helen! definitely drooling over these images.. pinned!
Helen says
Thanks so much, Thalia. Glad to have made you drool!
Bri | Bites of Bri says
I love stuffed chicken and all the ingredients in this are my faves! Pinning!
Helen says
Thank you so much, Bri! And thanks for pinning, too!
Chrissy says
I JUST went to a talk about the decline of the family dinner. I hope (and like to think) that it’s on the way back…and this would definitely be a good one to have on the menu!
Helen says
Sounds interesting, Chrissy! Glad to be so topical! 🙂
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says
The stuffed chicken alone sounds delicious, but I really must try the lemon butter gravy. omg and yes, then a good long walk is in order. 🙂
Helen says
Haha … yes, definitely don’t skip the long walk! Thanks so much for passing by, lea Ann!
Isadora says
I have the same obsession with shows like Man vs. Food. Part of me is fascinated while the other part of me wants to throw up! How could someone possibly fit that much food in their stomach?! And don’t even get me started on the spicy food challenges! I’ve only made stuffed chicken breasts once before, but they were so good and oozing with cheese! I love all the flavors you chose for this chicken! It sounds amazing, Helen!
Helen says
I don’t know how that guy on Man vs. Food isn’t absolutely huuuge! I guess the rest of the time when he isn’t on the show he eats salads … haha!
I’ve had a few types of these stuffed chicken breasts and have always enjoyed them … looking forward to dreaming up some other combos. So glad you like them, Issy!
Meggan | Culinary Hill says
Helen, this looks soooo divine! It reminds me of one of my favorite entrees at a popular Italian restaurant chain in the US, but your version looks so much better! I have loads of sundried tomatoes on hand too and I’m always looking for things to do with them. Pinned and I’ll be sharing it!
Helen says
Thanks so much, Meggan! It’s an old ‘trick’, I guess, stuffing chicken breasts, but always seems to turn out well. Hope I’ve given you some inspiration!
Sherri @ The Well Floured Kitchen says
I am definitely the one with the mounded plate – I can eat an insane amount of mashed potatoes in one sitting 🙂 I grew up eating pasta on Sundays – Italian family! This looks so amazing, pinned!
Helen says
Well, mashed potatoes can be pretty irresistible, especially with gravy! I think I’ve got to do some research about these special Sunday Italian pasta dishes I keep hearing about in the comments on this post. Sounds amazing!
Thanks so much for passing by and for pinning. 🙂
Laura @ Raise Your Garden says
As always Helen, your recipe is to die for. That stuffed chicken looks so over the top good. Wish I was eating it right now instead of leftovers! Anything with sundried tomatoes wins my heart every time- you posted this recipe on my 9th anniversary, so wish I was eating it instead of the subpar quickie meal we got! Although might have to get hubby to stuff the chicken for me, I’m such a wuss with doing that part. Butter lemon gravy?!? oh my! I want to drink that down.
Helen says
It sounds as if sundried tomatoes win nearly everyone’s heart – good news! Happy anniversary, Laura! I think you should make sure you go out for a nice meal to celebrate to make up for your subpar leftovers meal! Well, it is the weekend, as well…
So glad you like this meal – I’m with you on the raw chicken thing, actually! I hate handling it so much! 😉
[email protected] says
This looks like such a hearty delicious meal!! Love the addition of feta in stuffing!
Helen says
Hearty it is!! Thanks so much, Ami! 🙂
Allison says
Helen, every time I come to your blog, I learn something about the world. I’m not even joking! You’re like the Rick Steves of food blogging (or the cooler equivalent of Rick Steves -not sure who that is!). I hear about the Sunday lunches on British cooking shows and television programmes. I love the tradition! Sounds like a gut-bursting good time. On Sundays, we didn’t do lunch, but dinner. It was always a kind of dry roast (my mom wasn’t the greatest cook), veggies, and potatoes. It was okay, but honestly, for the amount of work it involved, I never enjoyed it that much. I much prefer bold, international flavours now 🙂 Also, I bought feta yesterday for the first time in about a year(!) and now I want to put feta on all my food! Salty goodness. Love the spinach addition, too.
Helen says
Allison, you sure know how to make a girl blush! I have heard of Rick Steves and am super honoured to be compared to him … hahaha!
Such a shame about your bad experience with Sunday lunches. I agree though that they are so so easy to get wrong. It’s definitely something I’d like to get some practice at, because when they’re good they’re REALLY good, and when they’re bad, well … you know all about that!
Have fun with your feta, Allison! It really does add a super punch of flavour, doesn’t it?
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
Sunday lunches were sooooo different in Sierra Leone. You have got me thinking about maybe posting something along those lines. I tend to find chicken very dry but I think the addition of feta and sundried tomatoes would be really great.
Helen says
Well, don’t forget that you’ve got the sauce here, too … that makes a big difference. If you’re careful not to overcook it, it’s nice and juicy, too!
Bintu, I’d really love to read a post from you about this … yes, please!
whatjessicabakednext says
This looks amazing, Helen! Love feta and sun-dried tomatoes- so delicious! Definitely going to be trying this for dinner!
Helen says
Oh, please do, Jessica! It’s super easy and tasty, especially with the light gravy. So glad you like it!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
We had a Sunday roast for the first time in ages last weekend. But I didn’t grow up having one so it’s not really a family tradition. It was more for convenience! 😛 This looks fantastic and I love the combo of flavours-we always have sun dried tomatoes 😀
Helen says
For me, sundried tomatoes just give things a lovely ‘flavour hit’.
It surprises me that you don’t have roasts very often, because you’ve posted a couple of ‘roasty’ type posts that I always think are really impressive. I’m a little bit ‘afraid’ of roasting meat, which is why something simpler like this is more up my street. 😉