Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare the asparagus by washing the spears and snapping off the tough, woody ends. Set aside.
- Place a chicken breast on a cutting board. Hold it steady with one hand and carefully slice horizontally into the thickest side, stopping about half an inch from the other side to create a pocket. Open it like a book.
- Place the butterflied chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and gently pound it to an even thickness of about a quarter-inch. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts.
- In a small bowl, combine the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese. Set aside.
- In another small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper to create a seasoning blend.
- Season the inside and outside of each chicken breast generously with the seasoning blend.
- Lay the chicken breasts open. Arrange 3-4 asparagus spears on one side of each breast. Top the asparagus with a quarter of the cheese mixture.
- Fold the other half of the chicken breast over the filling. Secure the edges with toothpicks to prevent the filling from leaking out.
- Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place the stuffed chicken breasts in the hot skillet.
- Sear for 2-3 minutes per side, until a golden-brown crust forms.
- Transfer the entire skillet to the preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Remove the skillet from the oven. Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before removing the toothpicks and slicing to serve. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring a moist result.
Notes
For best results, use freshly grated Parmesan as it melts better than pre-shredded varieties. If you don't have an oven-safe skillet, you can sear the chicken in a regular pan and then transfer it to a baking dish to finish in the oven. For variations, try substituting mozzarella with Provolone or Gruyère. You can also wrap each breast in a slice of prosciutto before searing for extra salty crunch, or add 2 oz of softened cream cheese to the cheese mixture for a creamier filling. To create a quick pan sauce, deglaze the hot pan with a splash of dry white wine and lemon juice after removing the chicken.
