Italian Hasselback Chicken – 30 minute meal
This Italian Hasselback Chicken recipe is a 30-minute meal that will wow your family or guests with its gourmet look and flavor without the hassle. Maybe call it “hassle-free” chicken 😉
What is Hasselback Chicken?
Interesting name, right? And no, it’s not named after the actress Elizabeth Hasselbeck. Instead, “Hasselback” is actually a special technique that originated in a Swedish restaurant called Hasselbacken in Stockholm. This restaurant coined the term Hasselback in their special potato recipe called Hasselbackspotatis made with baked potatoes.
Hasselback Slicing Technique
To be termed Hasselback, it means the food item of choice, be it chicken or potatoes, is sliced like an accordion (not fully sliced through) allowing for stuffing or seasoning to be placed between the slices. This technique enhances flavor and texture while creating a visually pleasant presentation!
Other Foods to Hasselback Cut
You can use this Hasselback technique in a variety of dishes, using:
- Chicken
- Roasts
- Potatoes
- Squash of all kinds
- Beets
- Baked bread
There are so many possibilities. So, whether your food choice is chicken or potatoes, the key is in the careful slicing and your choice of creative filling or seasoning between the slices. It’s a fun new skill that will add flair to any dish. In fact, while making this chicken dish, consider making some baked potatoes along side of it. Mix together some oil, salt, and pepper and brush onto some finely Hasselback-sliced potatoes. Yum!
Italian Hasselback Chicken Recipe
In my recipe, I chose to use chicken to thinly slice and stuff with a robust flavor mixture of spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, garlic, and Italian seasoning. This is an easy and delicious way to get a protein-packed meal.
Choosing Your Ingredients to Stuff Your Italian Hasselback Chicken
You can choose a variety of flavors and ingredients to make variations of the recipe listed below. Here are some tips for the Italian Hasselback Chicken below:
- Don’t skimp on the spinach! As you know, leafy greens cook down to small volumes, so use more fresh leaves than you would think.
- Sun-dried tomatoes have a richer, sweeter, and more concentrated flavor than fresh tomatoes, so they are perfect for perking up the flavor in this recipe. You can buy sun-dried tomatoes in the dry bag or jarred in oil and vinegar.
- No feta? Use shredded of finely diced mozzarella cheese.
Importance of Getting Enough Protein for Metabolic Health
In my practice, I encourage all of my clients to get at least 30 grams of protein at every meal. It’s simple to get near that 30 grams with this Italian Hasselback Chicken recipe because one serving is 29 grams of protein.
Want to increase your protein intake to support your metabolic health (blood sugar balance, weight management, hormones, etc)? Download your free Protein, Fat, & Fiber Guide to get started on the most foundational step of eating for better health– eating enough protein, fat, & fiber (PFF)!
Recipes to Pair with Italian Hasselback Chicken
The following recipes pair perfectly as side dishes with the chicken as the main dish:
- Balsamic Beet and Feta Salad — the colors of both dishes are great for a festive Christmas and holiday look!
- Dairy Free Alfredo Sauce (using coconut milk) — whether or not you’re looking for daily free, this healthier Alfredo pasta is to die for!
Find more of my healthy and easy meal recipes here!
Follow me on Instagram @wonderfullymade.rd where you can find tons of tips for healthy eating to heal your metabolism!
Recipe blog written by Jennifer Franzen, RDN | edited & reviewed by Victoria Peck-Gray, RDN
Italian Hasselback Chicken
Ingredients
- 16 oz Chicken Breast ~4 x 4oz each
- 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 6 cups Baby Spinach
- ½ cup Sun Dried Tomatoes julienne-cut
- 1 clove Garlic minced
- ¾ tsp Italian Seasoning
- ⅓ cup Feta Cheese crumbled
- 1 Lemon cut into wedges
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8×10-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place chicken breasts in the prepared dish. Cut 5 to 6 slits across, but not through, each chicken breast. Set aside.
- Add olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Add spinach, tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, and 1½ tablespoons water; sauté 2 minutes or until spinach wilts. Remove from heat; stir in cheese.
- Fill slits in each chicken breast evenly with the spinach mixture. Sprinkle chicken with freshly ground black pepper to taste. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the chicken registers 165°F. Serve warm with lemon wedges.
Notes & Tips
- Hasselback cut refers to cutting slits into food and usually stuffing the slits with yummy ingredients before cooking. You can do this with not only chicken and other meats, but also potatoes, squash, and more.
- Don't skimp on the spinach! Leafy greens cook down to small volumes, so use more fresh leaves than you would think
- Sun-dried tomatoes have a richer, sweeter, and more concentrated flavor than fresh tomatoes, so they are perfect for perking up the flavor in this recipe. You can buy sun-dried tomatoes in a dry bag or jarred in oil and vinegar.
- No feta? Use shredded or finely diced mozzarella cheese.
Notes
- Calories 229
- 29 grams Protein
- 9 grams Fat
- 2 grams Fiber
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