Hot Honey Ricotta Stuffed Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken breasts filled with creamy ricotta and glazed with sweet-spicy honey for an impressive main dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6.3 to 7 ounces each)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Ricotta Filling

05 - 0.75 cup ricotta cheese
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
08 - 1 clove garlic, minced
09 - 0.5 teaspoon lemon zest
10 - 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

→ Hot Honey Glaze

12 - 0.33 cup honey
13 - 1 to 2 teaspoons hot sauce, such as Sriracha or Frank's RedHot, to taste
14 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
15 - 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional, for extra heat

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking dish with parchment paper or lightly grease it with cooking spray.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry using paper towels. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut a deep pocket into the side of each breast, being careful not to cut all the way through.
03 - In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, parsley, basil, garlic, lemon zest, Parmesan, and red pepper flakes if using. Mix until smooth and well combined.
04 - Stuff each chicken breast pocket with equal amounts of the ricotta mixture. Secure the opening with toothpicks if needed.
05 - Rub the outside of each chicken breast with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
06 - Place the stuffed chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish.
07 - In a small saucepan over low heat, combine honey, hot sauce, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Warm gently, stirring, until fully blended, about 2 minutes.
08 - Brush half of the hot honey glaze over the tops of the chicken breasts.
09 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Internal temperature should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
10 - Remove from the oven and brush with the remaining hot honey glaze. Rest for 5 minutes before serving. Remove toothpicks before eating.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The chicken stays impossibly juicy because the ricotta keeps everything moist from the inside out.
  • You get that sweet-spicy contrast that makes each bite feel like a small celebration.
  • It looks restaurant-quality but comes together in under an hour, which means you can actually pull this off on a Tuesday.
02 -
  • The toothpicks are your friend—I learned this the hard way when ricotta started leaking everywhere—but remove them before serving unless you want an awkward moment at the table.
  • Don't skip patting the chicken dry; I once didn't, and the exterior steamed instead of developing any color, which completely changed the texture.
  • Hot sauce brands vary wildly in heat level, so taste your glaze as you go; some hot sauces are spicy, others are mostly vinegar.
03 -
  • If your chicken breasts are especially thick, you can gently pound them to an even thickness before stuffing—this ensures everything cooks at the same rate.
  • The hot honey can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container for up to a week; just reheat gently before using.
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