Ham and Cheese Stuffed Chicken is chicken breasts stuffed with ham, fresh spinach, and Swiss cheese, then pan-fried to perfection for a delicious meal any night of the week. It will be a new family favorite for all ages, for sure! I also have Stuffed Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken you may want to try, too!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Spinach: I love adding fresh spinach to the filling for a little bit of color and nutrition! If you are not a fan of spinach, you could leave it out.
Ham: Any cooked, diced ham will work for this recipe. I like to use deli ham that is on the thinner side. If it is too thick, it will be hard to stuff into the chicken breast. This is also a wonderful recipe to use up any leftover ham like my honey-glazed ham or brown sugar-glazed ham.
Cheese: There is just something so classic and comforting about a ham and cheese sandwich, so it just made sense to make a ham and cheese stuffed chicken recipe! I used Swiss cheese, but you could use other kinds of cheese like Gruyere, cheddar, or your favorite kind of cheese. Or, use a cheese blend of your choice.
Chicken: Look for 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts to use in this recipe. Cooking times may vary, depending on the size of the chicken breasts. Be careful not to cut all of the way through each chicken breast when butterflying. Use as many toothpicks as you need to secure all the delicious filling inside!
What To Serve With Ham and Cheese Stuffed Chicken
To round out this main dish, many delicious sides would complement the ham and cheese stuffed chicken. Here are a few options you could try:
- Roasted Asparagus
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Mashed Potatoes (or Cauliflower Mashed)
- Dinner Rolls
- Garlic Knots
- Seasoned Rice
Can I Make The Filling Ahead Of Time?
Yes, you could get the filling made up to a few days in advance. Once made, remove the filling from the heat and let it cool completely. Next, store the filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to 3 days. When ready to stuff the chicken breasts, let the filling come to room temperature and give it a good stir. You may want to warm it up on the stovetop or in the microwave.
How To Store Ham and Cheese Stuffed Chicken
To store stuffed chicken, first, let it cool to room temperature. Next, wrap the chicken breasts in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Then, place the wrapped chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to 3-4 days. Reheat the chicken in the oven at a low temperature (325°F-350°F) until heated through. If reheating in the microwave, be careful not to overcook, as that may dry out the chicken.
Can I Freeze Stuffed Chicken?
Sure! To freeze the cooked stuffed chicken, first, let them cool completely. Then, wrap the chicken breasts in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-safe container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to reheat, let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
5 from 1 vote
Ham and Cheese Stuffed Chicken
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 16 minutes mins
Total Time 36 minutes mins
Ham and Cheese Stuffed Chicken is chicken breasts stuffed with ham, fresh spinach, and Swiss cheese, then pan-fried to perfection for a delicious meal any night of the week. It will be a new family favorite for all ages, for sure!
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Ingredients
Filling
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup (245 g) whole milk, room temperature, divided
- 2 cups (60 g) fresh spinach
- 2 cups (270 g) diced deli ham
- 1 ½ cups (169.5 g) Swiss cheese, shredded
Chicken
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 2 pounds
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
Filling
To a medium saucepan over medium heat, add butter. Once melted, add flour, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
Pour in ½ cup of milk, whisking constantly. Then, pour in the remaining ½ cup milk, continuing to whisk constantly until smooth and boiling.
Reduce heat to low, bringing the mixture to a simmer. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce starts to thicken (1-2 minutes).
Add spinach. Cook for a minute, or until the spinach is wilted.
Add ham and shredded cheese. Stir well. Remove from heat and set aside.
Chicken
Pat chicken dry with a paper towel and butterfly each chicken breast. To butterfly, place a chicken breast on a cutting board. With your hand flat on top of it, use a sharp knife to slice into one side of the breast, starting at the thicker end and ending at the thin point. Be careful not to cut all the way through. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts.
Season butterflied chicken on both sides with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Add a heaping ½ cup of filling into the center of each butterflied chicken. (Depending on the size of each chicken breast, there may be leftover filling. Serve that on the side as extra filling.)
Fold the chicken closed and use a toothpick (or more as needed) to secure the two sides together.
To a large skillet over medium heat, add oil and butter. Once the oil is hot and the butter is melted, add stuffed chicken. (Depending on the size of your chicken breasts and skillet, you may have to work in batches.) Cook for 7-8 minutes per side, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Let the stuffed chicken rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1stuffed chicken breast | Calories: 804kcal
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Keyword: Ham and Cheese Stuffed Chicken
Servings: 4 stuffed chicken breasts
Calories: 804
Author: Amanda Rettke–iamhomesteader.com
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What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Elizabeth
I really enjoyed this stuffed chicken! It is a recipe I would make at home with the ham and cheese filling. Yum!
Rachael
Ham and Swiss is such a wonderful combination and it is delicious in this stuffed chicken breast. Gives kind of chicken cordon bleu vibes and I am here for it! This is a winner!
Bella
This is such a tasty and fulfilling recipe, especially with the ham and chicken! Definitely a great way to make chicken more interesting and flavorful!
Annabelle
Wow! This is tasty and pretty easy to make! If you want a simple way to mix up your weekly menu, this might be just what you're looking for.
