Chicken Breast with Cream Cheese Stuffing: Topped with an Easy Marinara Sauce
Do you want a fancy dinner that is easy enough for a weeknight? Then chicken breasts with cream cheese stuffing and topped with an easy marinara sauce is perfect.
This post contains affiliate links, and I may be compensated if you purchase through my link. See full disclosure HERE
Stuffed Chicken Breast with Simple Marinara Sauce
I love tomatoes and still have a ton of canned whole tomatoes and tomato sauce. I preserved more tomatoes last year than ever before.
Consequently, I am creating many dishes that include tomatoes! Let the games begin.
Stuffed Chicken Breast with Simple Marinara Sauce
Equipment
- 1 9×9 baking dish
- 1 large sauce pot
- Aluminum Foil
- Parchment Paper
Ingredients
Marinara Sauce
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
- 1 14.5 oz can of whole tomatoes I use my canned tomatoes
- 1 6 oz can of tomato paste
- 2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp basil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Stuffed Chicken Breast
- 2 chicken breast, cut in half lengthwise
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 oz freshly shredded parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 oz sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained & finely chopped
- 1 tsp basil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
Marinara Sauce
- Saute the onions in oil until transparent, add garlic, and saute for one more minute.
- Add the tomatoes and the spices. Bring to a boil and then lower heat to simmer for at least 30 minutes.
Chicken Breasts
- Preheat oven to 375°
- While the sauce is simmering, mix the softened cream cheese, 1 oz of the parmesan cheese with the garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and spices.
- Place the chicken breasts (one at a time) on a cutting board and cover with parchment paper and pound (I use a rolling pin) until they are thin, about 1/4" thick.
- Using a spoon put about 1/4 of the cheese mixture onto the flattened chicken breast and spread in the center. Roll up the breast starting with the smaller end.
- Secure with toothpicks
- Place the chicken breasts (seam side down) into the 9×9 baking dish that has been lined with foil and sprayed with cooking spray. Brush a little olive oil over the top and cover the chicken rolls with another piece of foil. Place in preheated oven and bake for 30 – 40 minutes or until 145° in the center. I take the foil off when I check the chicken at 25-30 minutes.
- While chicken is cooking, boil the pasta according to package directions.
- Slice cooked chicken and place on top of noodles and marinara sauce. Remaining parmesan cheese to garnish if desired.
- You can also use zoodles
Notes
Substitutions & Variations
Being a fan of trying new things and new tastes, it’s fun to add flavors you love to new recipes.
Cheese Stuffing
- Use goat cheese instead of cream cheese (regular or garlic & herb)
- Add other herbs (oregano, thyme)
- Add spinach to the stuffing
- Used drained canned whole tomatoes or fresh chopped instead of sundried tomatoes
- Add sautéed chopped shallots
Protein
Instead of chicken breasts try stuffing in:
- Thick Boneless Pork Chops
- Portabello Mushrooms
- Stuffed Fish
- Stuffed Flank Steak
Serve it Over
- Spaghetti
- GF Pasta
- Zoodles
- Tortellini or Ravioli
Side Dish Ideas
- Side Salad
- Steamed Green Beans or Broccoli
- Crusty French Bread
Wine Pairing
Wine rules don’t apply at Small House Kitchen. They also don’t apply in the real world as poultry should be paired with white wine but Italian with red. Here are my suggestions for this chicken recipe.
White Wines
- Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay
- Château Bonnet Sauvignon Blanc
- Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling
Red Wines
- Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
- Lini 910 ‘Labrusca’ Riserva Emilia IGT
- Yes Way Rosé
If you give this recipe a try please leave a comment. I would love to know if you try something different. Also, remember that this is pretty fancy to serve for guests but not difficult. It’s a great way to impress!
Enjoy,
Meet Me
Created by Lynn Vogeler, Small House Kitchen is a celebration of the joy found in mostly from-scratch cooking and the magic that happens when great ingredients meet limitless imagination. In our small house, we turn simple ingredients into extraordinary meals with big flavors.
You can find out about all of my other passions; decorating, entertaining, organizing, and gardening over at livinglargeinasmallhouse.com
A great way to remember this recipe is to save it to your Pinterest boards. You can find the pin button when you hover over the photo below. Also, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest
This chicken sounds so good! I’m making it. Hugs to you.
It is really good and so easy!
This look so yummy Lynn!