Easy Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts | Weeknight Dinner Favorite

Hello, Kitchen Friends!

Remember those cozy Sunday dinners where the aroma of a perfectly cooked meal filled the house? Today, we’re bringing a little bit of that magic into your busy week with a recipe that’s seriously going to knock your socks off: Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts! This dish feels fancy enough for company but is so incredibly simple, you’ll be making it on repeat. It’s that “wow” factor without the fuss, and honestly, who doesn’t love that?

Why You’ll Absolutely Adore These Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts

  • Speedy Weeknight Wonder: From start to finish, this recipe is designed to get a delicious meal on your table without a ton of time.
  • Seriously Simple Steps: No complicated techniques here! Just a few easy steps that anyone can follow.
  • Perfect for Gifting (or Sharing!): These make a fantastic meal to bring to a friend who’s just had a baby, is recovering from surgery, or just needs a little culinary love.
  • A Crowd-Pleaser for Sure: Even picky eaters will be asking for seconds. The savory feta filling is simply irresistible!

Gather Your Delicious Ingredients

Let’s get these goodies prepped! Here’s what you’ll need:

For the Chicken:

  • 2 pounds chicken breasts: Look for plump, nice-looking ones.
  • Salt and pepper: Your everyday flavor boosters.

For the Zesty Marinade:

  • ¼ cup lemon juice: For a bright, tangy kick.
  • ¼ cup olive oil: The base for our luscious marinade.
  • 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard: Adds a little zing and helps everything emulsify.
  • 1 teaspoon honey: Just a touch of sweetness to balance the flavors.
  • 1 Tablespoon dried oregano: The quintessential Mediterranean herb!
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika: For a hint of color and mild flavor.
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder: Concentrated onion goodness.
  • 1 Tablespoon minced garlic: Because garlic makes everything better!
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt: We’ll add a bit more in the filling.
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper: A little warmth.

For the Irresistible Feta Cheese Filling:

  • 6 oz feta cheese, crumbled: The star of the show! Salty and creamy.
  • 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise: This makes the filling wonderfully smooth and binds it all together.
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder: More garlic magic!
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder: For that savory depth.
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt: Adjust to your taste, as feta can be salty.
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano: Echoing the marinade for a cohesive flavor.
  • ⅓ cup kalamata olives, coarsely chopped: These briny little gems add a fantastic burst of flavor.

Let’s Get Cooking: Step-by-Step

Ready? Let’s make some culinary magic happen!

  1. Prep Your Chicken: Take each chicken breast and, with a sharp knife, carefully slice a pocket into the thickest side. Imagine you’re creating a little cozy space for our yummy filling. Don’t cut all the way through!
  2. Whip Up the Marinade: Grab a medium-sized bowl. Toss in the lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, oregano, paprika, onion powder, minced garlic, sea salt, and pepper. Whisk it all together until it’s beautifully combined.
  3. Marinate the Chicken: Place your chicken breasts into a resealable bag. Pour that glorious marinade over them, making sure each piece is nicely coated. Seal the bag and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or if you have the time, up to 2 hours. This is where all that amazing flavor really sinks in!
  4. Make the Feta Filling: While the chicken is having its flavor spa day, let’s prepare the star filling. In a separate bowl, combine the crumbled feta cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, dried oregano, and those delicious chopped kalamata olives. Give it a good stir until everything is nicely mixed. It should be creamy and packed with flavor!
  5. Drain the Chicken: Time to take the chicken out of its marinade. Carefully remove the breasts from the bag. You can discard the leftover marinade, or if you’re feeling adventurous, reserve a little to brush on the chicken as it cooks.
  6. Stuff ‘Em Up!: Now for the fun part! Gently open the pocket you made in each chicken breast and spoon in a generous amount of that feta cheese filling. Don’t overstuff, but be generous – we want that creamy feta goodness in every bite!
  7. Season the Outside: Lightly season the outside of your stuffed chicken breasts with a little more salt and pepper. This gives them a lovely final touch.
  8. Cook to Perfection: Now you get to choose your cooking adventure! You can bake these in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for about 20-25 minutes, grill them over medium-high heat, or even pan-sear them until they’re golden brown and cooked through. The most important thing is to make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Use a meat thermometer to be sure!

Get Creative: Substitutions & Additions

Feeling inspired to jazz things up? I love that about you! Here are a few ideas:

  • Cheese Swap: If feta isn’t your jam, try goat cheese, mozzarella, or even a dollop of cream cheese for an extra creamy filling.
  • Herb Variations: Swap oregano for basil, thyme, or rosemary. Fresh herbs are also fantastic if you have them on hand!
  • Add Some Veggies: Finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, or roasted red peppers would be delightful additions to the feta filling.
  • Spice It Up: A pinch of red pepper flakes in the filling or marinade will add a lovely little kick.
  • Different Olives: If kalamata olives aren’t available, regular black olives work too, or you could even skip them if you prefer.

My Top Tips for Feta Stuffed Chicken Breast Success

Let’s make sure these turn out absolutely perfect, every single time:

  • Don’t Over-Slice: Be careful when creating the pocket so you don’t accidentally cut through the chicken.
  • Even Thickness: If your chicken breasts are very thick, you can pound them slightly to ensure more even cooking.
  • Don’t Overcook: Chicken can go from perfectly juicy to dry in a flash. Keep an eye on it and use that meat thermometer!
  • Marinade Time: While 30 minutes is good, a longer marinade (up to 2 hours) will infuse even more flavor into the chicken.
  • Prep Ahead Magic: You can make the feta filling a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator. You can also stuff the chicken breasts a few hours ahead of cooking and keep them in the fridge. Just season the outside right before cooking!

Storing Your Delicious Creation

Leftovers are a good thing, right? Store any remaining stuffed chicken breasts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. They reheat beautifully in the oven or a skillet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?

Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a fantastic alternative and are often more forgiving if you happen to overcook them slightly.

Can I make the filling ahead of time?

Yes! The feta filling can be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This is a great time-saver!

What’s the best way to reheat stuffed chicken?

The best way is usually in a moderate oven (around 350°F/175°C) until warmed through. This helps keep the chicken moist and the filling creamy.

Enjoy every single delicious bite of these Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts! I can’t wait to hear how yours turn out!

Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Juicy chicken breasts stuffed with a savory feta and kalamata olive filling, marinated in a zesty lemon-herb mixture. This simple yet impressive dish is perfect for a weeknight meal or for entertaining.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings 4 breasts

Equipment

  • Sharp knife for slicing pockets in chicken breasts
  • Medium-sized bowl for whisking marinade
  • Resealable bag for marinating chicken
  • Separate bowl for preparing feta filling
  • Meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to 165°F (74°C)

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken

  • 2 pounds chicken breasts Look for plump, nice-looking ones.
  • 1 to taste salt Your everyday flavor boosters. Add a bit more in the filling.
  • 1 to taste pepper Your everyday flavor boosters. A little warmth.

For the Zesty Marinade

  • 0.25 cup lemon juice For a bright, tangy kick.
  • 0.25 cup olive oil The base for our luscious marinade.
  • 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard Adds a little zing and helps everything emulsify.
  • 1 teaspoon honey Just a touch of sweetness to balance the flavors.
  • 1 Tablespoon dried oregano The quintessential Mediterranean herb!
  • 0.25 teaspoon paprika For a hint of color and mild flavor.
  • 0.25 teaspoon onion powder Concentrated onion goodness.
  • 1 Tablespoon minced garlic Because garlic makes everything better!
  • 0.25 teaspoon sea salt We'll add a bit more in the filling.
  • 0.25 teaspoon pepper A little warmth.

For the Irresistible Feta Cheese Filling

  • 6 oz feta cheese crumbled. The star of the show! Salty and creamy.
  • 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise This makes the filling wonderfully smooth and binds it all together.
  • 0.25 teaspoon garlic powder More garlic magic!
  • 0.25 teaspoon onion powder For that savory depth.
  • 0.25 teaspoon sea salt Adjust to your taste, as feta can be salty.
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano Echoing the marinade for a cohesive flavor.
  • 0.33 cup kalamata olives coarsely chopped. These briny little gems add a fantastic burst of flavor.

Instructions
 

  • Take each chicken breast and, with a sharp knife, carefully slice a pocket into the thickest side. Imagine you're creating a little cozy space for our yummy filling. Don't cut all the way through!
  • Grab a medium-sized bowl. Toss in the lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, oregano, paprika, onion powder, minced garlic, sea salt, and pepper. Whisk it all together until it's beautifully combined.
  • Place your chicken breasts into a resealable bag. Pour that glorious marinade over them, making sure each piece is nicely coated. Seal the bag and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or if you have the time, up to 2 hours. This is where all that amazing flavor really sinks in!
  • While the chicken is having its flavor spa day, let's prepare the star filling. In a separate bowl, combine the crumbled feta cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, dried oregano, and those delicious chopped kalamata olives. Give it a good stir until everything is nicely mixed. It should be creamy and packed with flavor!
  • Time to take the chicken out of its marinade. Carefully remove the breasts from the bag. You can discard the leftover marinade, or if you're feeling adventurous, reserve a little to brush on the chicken as it cooks.
  • Now for the fun part! Gently open the pocket you made in each chicken breast and spoon in a generous amount of that feta cheese filling. Don't overstuff, but be generous – we want that creamy feta goodness in every bite!
  • Lightly season the outside of your stuffed chicken breasts with a little more salt and pepper. This gives them a lovely final touch.
  • Now you get to choose your cooking adventure! You can bake these in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for about 20-25 minutes, grill them over medium-high heat, or even pan-sear them until they're golden brown and cooked through. The most important thing is to make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Use a meat thermometer to be sure!

Notes

Don't over-slice the chicken when creating pockets. If chicken breasts are very thick, pound them slightly for even cooking. Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking. Longer marination (up to 2 hours) adds more flavor. The feta filling can be made a day ahead. Stuffed chicken breasts can be prepared a few hours ahead of cooking and refrigerated.

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