The hard part of making this elegant dish is choosing the filling. Making a pocket in the chicken breast to hold the stuffing is easy, particularly if you use a good, sharp, thin-bladed knife. Browning the chicken in a skillet before baking gives it a beautiful golden color. Finishing it in the oven ensures that it cooks evenly throughout.

Makes 4 servings

ACTIVE TIME: 25 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 50 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

2 tablespoons reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel)
1 tablespoon basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
Freshly ground pepper to taste
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (1-1 1/4 pounds total)
1 egg white
1/2 cup plain dry breadcrumbs
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Combine cream cheese, pesto and pepper in a small bowl with a fork.
3. Cut a horizontal slit along the thin, long edge of a chicken breast half, nearly through to the opposite side. Open up each breast and place one-fourth of the filling in the center. Close the breast over the filling, pressing the edges firmly together to seal. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts and filling.
4. Lightly beat egg white with a fork in a medium bowl. Place breadcrumbs in a shallow glass dish. Hold each chicken breast half together and dip in the egg white, then dredge in the breadcrumbs. (Discard leftovers.)
5. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts; cook until browned on one side, about 2 minutes. Place the chicken, browned-side up, on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until the chicken is no longer pink in the center or until an instant-read thermometer registers 170°F, about 20 minutes.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 233 calories; 7 g fat (2 g sat, 3 g mono); 71 mg cholesterol; 11 g carbohydrate; 30 g protein; 1 g fiber; 231 mg sodium.

1 Carbohydrate Serving

I use this with fat free ricotta, spinach, and tomato. For breading I use all bran and no oil. It lowers the cal/fat significantly but still looks elegant. Soooo good!

I followed this very close to the recipe, and it was delicious! I was surprised at the rich flavor of the cream cheese and pesto, great taste and healthy! I definitely recommend this one, quick and easy!

Lauren, Cleveland, OH

I don't usually eat chicken unless it's in something like soup or casseroles. But my husband and i really liked this. Very simple and good. We used Organic chicken!

Cara, Bellingham, WA