Description
Mexican-inspired stuffed chicken brings zesty flavors to dinner tables with incredible ease. Home cooks can quickly master this simple yet delicious meal that promises satisfying results.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 tbsp (15 g) unsalted butter (optional, for extra flavor)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (or dried oregano)
- 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon juice (optional, for freshness)
Instructions
- Preparation: Thoroughly pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels to eliminate moisture, ensuring a crisp exterior and optimal searing potential.
- Tenderizing: Use a meat mallet to create uniform thickness, promoting even cooking and improved meat texture across the entire breast.
- Seasoning: Develop a dynamic spice blend incorporating salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and Italian herbs, creating a robust flavor profile.
- Coating: Generously massage the spice mixture across both sides of the chicken, ensuring comprehensive flavor distribution and maximum taste penetration.
- Searing: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, creating an ideal environment for developing a golden-brown caramelized exterior on the chicken.
- Cooking: Place seasoned chicken in the hot pan, allowing each side to cook undisturbed for 5-6 minutes, developing a rich, crisp crust and sealing in natural juices.
- Finishing: Introduce butter to the skillet, gently basting the chicken to enhance flavor and create a luxurious, glossy surface while ensuring complete internal cooking.
- Resting: Remove chicken from heat and let it rest for 5 minutes, allowing internal juices to redistribute and ensuring a moist, tender final result.
- Serving: Garnish with a delicate splash of fresh lemon juice and plate alongside complementary side dishes to elevate the overall culinary experience.
Notes
- Blot Moisture Completely: Remove all excess water from chicken breasts using paper towels to guarantee a perfectly crisp and golden-brown exterior during cooking.
- Uniform Thickness Matters: Gently pound chicken breasts to create even thickness, ensuring consistent cooking and preventing dry or undercooked sections.
- Spice Blend Perfection: Develop a balanced seasoning mix by combining herbs and spices, massaging thoroughly into every surface for maximum flavor absorption and depth.
- Rest and Redistribute Juices: Allow cooked chicken to rest for 5 minutes after cooking, which helps redistribute internal moisture and prevents dry, tough meat when slicing and serving.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 660 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg