Easy and Delicious cheese stuffed barbecue chicken.
- Carbohydrate 0 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 0 g
- Fiber 0 g
- Protein 0 g
- Saturated Fat 0 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (0g)
- Sodium 0 mg
- Sugar 0 g
- Trans Fat 0 g
- Calories 0 calories
Step-by-step
- Leave chicken breasts at original size OR with a meat mallet, flatten each thawed chicken breast to approximately 1/4 inches.
- Season both sides with seasonings to your taste.
- If leaving chicken breasts at original size, cut a pocket into the breast (not all the way through).
- Stuff each chicken breast with pepper jack cheese slices OR lay desired amount of cheese slices on top of flattened breasts and fold; secure with soaked toothpicks.
- In a skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat and lightly brown chicken breasts on all sides.
- Transfer chicken to a lightly greased baking dish; place in preheated oven and cook for 20-35 minutes or until the chicken juices run clear; basting with barbecue sauce on both sides frequently.
- Remove from oven and Enjoy the goodness!!
Controlling the Heat for the Proper Sear
Operating within a standard thirty-minute window requires careful heat management on the stovetop so the exterior proteins firm up before the interior dairy escapes entirely. Medium-high heat is necessary for the vegetable oil in the skillet, but letting the pan get smoking hot will scorch the barbecue sauce sugars during the subsequent baking phase. Brown the chicken breasts for approximately two minutes per side until a golden crust forms, which acts as a structural barrier against leaking cheese. Keeping toothpicks soaked in water beforehand prevents them from burning and splintering during this initial searing process.Managing the Cheese Pocket and Thickness
Creating a reliable interior pouch requires cutting carefully into the thickest part of the meat without slicing through the opposite side, maintaining a stable casing for the pepper jack slices. Alternatively, pounding the meat to a uniform thickness of one-quarter inch allows for folding and securing with toothpicks, though this method exposes more surface area and changes how the heat penetrates. Pepper jack cheese contains high moisture content and melts quickly at 350 degrees, meaning that if the pocket is not tightly secured, the filling will run out into the baking dish before the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.Basting Mechanics and Oven Timing
Transferring the seared poultry to a greased baking dish initiates the oven phase, which generally requires 20 to 35 minutes depending on the original density of the meat. Frequent basting with barbecue sauce caramelizes the exterior sugars, but opening the oven door repeatedly drops the ambient temperature and extends the overall cooking duration. Watch for clear juices and a firm internal resistance when tested with a thermometer to determine doneness accurately.
