This smoked feta stuffed pesto chicken on the Big Green Egg came about while just browsing for ingredients in the fridge and boy did it not disappoint!
The juicy fresh chicken blends so nicely with the melted feta cheese, pesto sauce and homemade rub! It had the whole family looking for seconds to devour.
Smoked Feta Stuffed Pesto Chicken Ingredients
- Pesto
- Feta Cheese
- 4 Chicken Breasts
- 1/2 Teaspoon – Thyme
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon – Paprika
- 1/2 Teaspoon – Oregano
- 1/2 Teaspoon – Ground Cumin
How to Setup the Big Green Egg for the Stuffed Chicken
This stuffed pesto chicken is cooked in direct in which you’ll need the plate setter / conv”egg”tor inserted with the feet facing upward. The BGE should be dialed into right around 325-350 degrees.
You’ll want to hold off on putting the cast iron skillet on the BGE so that you aren’t adding cool oil to the hot skillet.
How to Prepare the Feta Stuffed Pesto Chicken Breasts
To prepare the feta stuffed pesto chicken start out by creating “pockets” in the chicken breast. Make sure to not cut all the way through as it will be more difficult to stuff the chicken breasts with feta cheese.
Once all the chicken breasts have been “pocketed”, fill with feta cheese and set aside.
Up next comes the delicious rub to really amplify that flavor. In a dish, combine the thyme, paprika, oregano and ground cumin.
Mix together well.
Moderately season the top of the stuffed chicken breasts with the rub but keep some extra out for later (it can be applied when the breasts are flipped.
How to Smoke the Feta Stuff Pesto Chicken Breasts
By now the BGE should be rolling around 325-350 degrees.
Put a good drizzle of extra virgin olive oil in the cast iron skillet.
Add the stuffed chicken to the oil once it is heated with the seasoned side up.
After about 3 or 4 minutes give the chicken breasts a flip.
At this point, add the rest of the rub that you set aside from earlier.
Continue to cook for a few more minutes and flip them back over. When the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees add the pesto on the top.
Continue to cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees in which the feta stuffed pesto chicken is complete.
Pull it, plate it and sprinkle some more feta on top and serve with your favorite sides.
Smoked Feta Stuffed Pesto Chicken
This smoked feta stuffed pesto chicken on the Big Green Egg came about while just browsing for ingredients in the fridge and boy did it not disappoint! The juicy fresh chicken blends so nicely with the melted feta cheese, pesto sauce and homemade rub! It had the whole family looking for seconds to devour.
Ingredients
- Pesto
- Feta Cheese
- 4 Chicken Breasts
- 1/2 Teaspoon - Thyme
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon - Paprika
- 1/2 Teaspoon - Oregano
- 1/2 Teaspoon - Ground Cumin
Instructions
- Fire up the BGE and get it dialed into 325-350 degrees. This is an indirect cook in which the plate setter / conv"egg"tor should be inserted with the feet facing upward.
- While the BGE is stabilizing and getting dialed in take the chicken breasts and cut pockets in them.
- Fill the pocketed chicken breasts with feta cheese and set aside.
- In a bowl combine the thyme, paprika, oregano and ground cumin and mix together well.
- Spread evenly over the chicken breasts keeping some aside for when they are flipped on the BGE.
- Drizzle some extra virgin olive oil in the cast iron skillet and add the chicken once it is heated.
- Smoke the chicken for 3-4 minutes and then give them a flip.
- Add the remaining spices to the back side of the chicken now that they are flipped and continue to cook for a few more minutes.
- Flip the chicken breast back over and cook until the internal termperature reaches 160 degrees in which you'll want to add the pesto to the top fo the chicken. Close the lid and cook until the internal temperature reacehs 165 degrees.
- Pull the chicken breasts, plate, slice, sprinkle with some more feta chease and serve.
Notes
Another idea to add a little more flavor to this smoked feta stuffed pesto chicken would be to add some sliced in half grape or cherry tomatos!
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
--
If you want more backyard tips including recipes, how-tos and more, make sure you subscribe to my youtube channel