Spinach & Smoked Gouda Stuffed Chicken

This is probably our favorite chicken recipe and I rarely make it! It was actually one of the first recipes I shared back in 2010 so I thought it deserved another day in the spotlight.

Back when when we were first married, we had a lot of fun trying new recipes and cooking together. Neither one of us were great cooks but with practice, we started eating really well. I was in recipe scavenge mode - and since it was way before Pinterest (and food blogs, too, really), I picked up lots of recipes along the way from friends, family, and magazines.

One night we splurged on smoked gouda (we were poor newlyweds!) and made this chicken. It's been a favorite since! It was the meal we made my mom when she visited us the first time and it became our one "guest worthy" dish. While I'm now comfortable making many other things for guests, too, this chicken is still one of our top choices. Everyone I've made it for asks for the recipe and I have to admit to them how easy it is!

This chicken is weeknight (or guest!) worthy. The stuffing is quickly mixed together in a bowl and stuffed into chicken breasts before baking. Simple and no fess!

Spinach and Smoked Gouda Stuffed Chicken
1 box of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed of liquid
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup shredded smoked gouda
4 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350. 

In a medium sized mixing bowl, mix together the cream cheese, spinach, smoked gouda, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

Cut a slit in the thick side of each chicken breast piece, being careful to not cut through the other side, in order to create a pocket. 

Stuff each pocket with the cream cheese mixture and place in a greased baking dish. Drizzle the melted butter over top and then salt and pepper each piece well. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until cooked through.

Source: a friend