Sweet Spicy Blackberry Stuffed Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken stuffed with blackberry, cream cheese, and jalapeño for a sweet-spicy fusion dinner.

# What You'll 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, deseeded and finely diced
06 - Zest of 1 lemon
07 - Pinch of salt

→ Seasoning & 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 blackberries. Add the 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 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 black pepper. Brush the seasoning mixture evenly over each stuffed chicken breast.
06 - Place the stuffed chicken on the prepared baking sheet. Mix 2 tablespoons honey with the balsamic vinegar and brush over the tops of each breast to form a glaze.
07 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the chicken is cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F and the juices run clear.
08 - Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Spoon any excess blackberry juices over the top if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The contrast of jammy blackberries with a subtle jalapeño kick will make you close your eyes at the table.
  • It looks like something from a restaurant menu but comes together with ingredients you probably already have.
  • Every single person who has eaten this at my table has asked for the recipe before leaving.
02 -
  • Do not skip the resting step because cutting too early will cause all those beautiful juices to run out and dry out your chicken.
  • If your cream cheese is not fully softened the filling will have lumps and will be harder to stuff evenly into the pockets.
  • A toothpick inserted loosely through the opening of each breast helps keep the filling from spilling out during baking.
03 -
  • Use toothpicks to secure the pocket opening after stuffing because it saves you from watching half your filling leak onto the baking sheet.
  • Swap the cream cheese for goat cheese if you want a tangier filling that pairs even more dramatically with the sweet berries.

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