Baked Chicken and Spinach Stuffing

Baked Chicken and Spinach Stuffing won the 42nd Pillsbury Bake-Off in 2006. Recipe on Pillsbury.com by Anna Ginsberg of Austin, Texas. A creative use of waffles as the base for this stuffing. This recipe serves two. Perfect for a romantic dinner. All you need is some candles.

Start by stirring together some maple-flavored syrup, peach preserves and Worcestershire sauce. In a square pan, pour over 2 bone-in skin-on chicken breasts and bake at 350°F. for about 45 minutes.

Cut waffles into 3/4-inch cubes; set aside.

Saute onions in butter. Add waffle pieces and some chicken broth. Sprinkle with poultry seasoning and sage. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Stir in egg white and spinach. Spoon stuffing into greased casserole. Sprinkle pecans over mixture. Place in the oven for the last 20 minutes of the chicken’s baking time.

Serve chicken with stuffing on the side. A lovely dinner for two.

Print Recipe

Baked Chicken and Spinach Stuffing

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons maple-flavored syrup
• 2 tablespoons peach preserves
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 bone-in skin-on chicken breasts 1 lb
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 4 frozen plain or buttermilk waffles
• 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 medium
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
• 1 tablespoon beaten egg white
• 1 box 9 oz Green Giant™ frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained (about 1 cup)
• 1 tablespoon chopped pecans

Instructions

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch glass pie plate or 8-inch square pan with cooking spray. In small bowl, mix syrup, preserves and Worcestershire sauce. Place chicken, skin side up, in pie plate; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spoon syrup mixture over chicken.
• Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes. Meanwhile, toast waffles until golden brown. Cool slightly, about 2 minutes. Cut waffles into 3/4-inch cubes; set aside. Spray 1-quart casserole with cooking spray (or use 9x5-inch nonstick loaf pan; do not spray). In 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir about 2 minutes or until tender. Stir in waffle pieces and broth, breaking up waffle pieces slightly to moisten. Sprinkle with poultry seasoning and sage. Remove from heat; cool about 5 minutes. Stir in egg white and spinach. Spoon stuffing into casserole. Sprinkle pecans over top.
• Twenty minutes before chicken is done, place casserole in oven next to chicken in pie plate. Spoon syrup mixture in pie plate over chicken. Bake chicken and stuffing uncovered 20 to 25 minutes longer or until juice of chicken is clear when thickest part is cut to bone (170°F) and stuffing is thoroughly heated. Spoon remaining syrup mixture in pie plate over chicken. Serve chicken with stuffing.