Gourmet Stuffed Chicken Breast Delight

Ingredients:

• 3-4 chicken breasts
• 8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions or scallions
• 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella, cut into small cubes
• 1/8 cup sun-dried tomatoes, squeezed dry (save the oil separately)
• 1 cup chopped spinach
• 6 leaves of basil, chopped
• 5-6 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 2 tbsp pesto sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Chicken breast seasoning: 1 tsp salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika
• Toothpicks for securing stuffed chicken

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
2. Slice each chicken breast horizontally at the thickest part, leaving them attached like a book. Season inside and out with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine room temperature cream cheese, mozzarella, green onions, chopped spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, chopped garlic, fresh basil, pesto sauce, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix until well combined.
4. Generously stuff each chicken breast with the filling, then close and seal with three toothpicks piercing the chicken breast diagonally.
5. Sprinkle paprika on each side of the stuffed chicken.
6. Heat an oven-safe skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add a tablespoon of olive oil and one tablespoon of butter.
7. Sear the stuffed chicken breasts in the skillet until browned on each side, approximately 3-5 minutes per side.
8. Once browned, drizzle the sun-dried tomato oil (about 1 tsp per chicken breast) over each piece.
9. Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
10. Remove the skillet from the oven and take out the toothpicks. Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes before serving.
11. Serve the Gourmet Stuffed Chicken with buttered pasta and a side of simple steamed vegetables like broccoli. Enjoy your culinary masterpiece!