Chicken With Goat Cheese and Basil

Several months ago I stopped home for something (no idea what for, not important) and was talking with my mom. Every time I go home my mom tries to give me food and this instance was no exception. She had made dinner for her, my dad and my brother for that night but there was extra food so she gave it to me. It looked and smelled very good so I accepted and ate it for my dinner that night.

Let me just tell you how delicious that chicken was! Goat cheese was oozing out from under the wonderfully crispy skin and the flavor of the basil was a wonderful addition.

Later I called my mom to tell her how much I enjoyed the food and told her I had to have the recipe. I have no idea where she got the original recipe, she just told me the ingredients and how to put it together. I have made this several times for Brandon and myself and I love it each time. The original way to put it together is to put everything under the skin but the first time I made this all I had was boneless, skinless chicken breast so I did a roll instead. That worked although I missed the taste and texture of the skin.

I have tried to assemble some semblance of a recipe here but there are so many variables to take into account; how many chicken breasts you are using, how much skin in on the breast and how much basil you like. Here are the basics, do with them what you will:

Chicken with basil and goat cheese:
Ingredients:
Skin-on chicken breasts (the bone is not necessary)
Log of Chevre goat cheese (amount is variable, however much you want)
Bunch of basil leaves (also variable)
Salt, Pepper and Olive oil

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken breasts into a baking dish.
Slice the goat cheese and gather the basil leaves.
Pull the skin away from the breasts and stuff with the goat cheese and then the basil.
Drizzle the chicken with olive oil (this will make the skin nice and crispy) and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Bake until done, about 30 minutes

Simple, delicious and nice enough to serve to guests. If the chicken does not have bones this will of course be easier to eat but we all know that the bones give extra flavor so it is up to you!

Enjoy!

Sam