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Stuffed Chicken Thighs with Spinach and Goat Cheese

Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs work best for a crispy, crunchy skin and super juicy chicken meat every time.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword Stuffed Chicken
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (about 4 pieces)
  • cup goat cheese softened
  • cup cream cheese softened
  • ¼ cup wilted spinach chopped and squeezed of extra moisture
  • ¼ cup drained artichoke hearts chopped
  • ¼ cup sun-drained tomatoes drained and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil minced
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2-3 tablespoons olive or canola oil
  • ½ cup chicken broth

Instructions

  • Let the chicken sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes before cooking so it takes the chicken comes to even internal temperature for even cooking.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • In a medium size bowl, mix the goat cheese and the cream cheese together until smooth. Stir the spinach, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper into the cheese mixture until combined.
  • Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Carefully loosen the skin from the thigh meat with your fingers, gingerly making a pocket so the skin is still connected at the edges to the meat. Gently place a spoonful of the goat cheese mixture in the pocket between the skin and the chicken, keeping it in a small mound of cheese. Pull the skin so it covers the chicken and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  • In a large cast iron skillet, add the olive oil over medium high heat. Place the chicken skin-side down in the skillet. Cook for about 4-5 minutes or until the chicken skin is golden and crispy. Carefully turn the chicken over and cook for another 4-5 minutes or until it's golden brown. If the chicken sticks to the pan, it isn't ready to turn.
  • Add the chicken broth to the bottom of the pan and carefully cover with aluminum foil. Put in the oven for 12 -15 minutes, or until this internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160°F. Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes. The chicken will continue to cook as it sits. Garnish with more basil and serve.