Chicken Breast Stuffed with Soft Yuca Mofongo and Cheese with Spicy Guava Sauce
Puerto Rican Food
Intermediate

Chicken Breast Stuffed with Soft Yuca Mofongo and Cheese with Spicy Guava Sauce

An original Puerto Rican recipe featuring adobo-seasoned chicken breasts stuffed with soft yuca mofongo, garlic, and crispy pork cracklings, seared and finished in the oven, then served with a silky guava, sweet pepper, and vinegar sauce. Comforting, flavorful, and deeply Puerto Rican.

30 minPrep
35 minCook
65 minTotal
4Servings
High ProteinGluten-Free

Ingredients

Adjust servings
4
  • 4 approx. 700 g boneless skinless chicken breasts (abiertas en mariposa or with bolsillo for rellenar)
  • 12 g homemade adobo seasoning (for sazonar the chicken)
  • 3 g salt (ajustar to taste)
  • 1 g black pepper (freshly ground)
  • 30 ml olive oil (divided)
  • 450 g peeled yuca in chunks (for hervir)
  • 4 units garlic cloves (2 for the yuca and 2 for the sauce)
  • 40 g crispy pork cracklings (lightly crushed)
  • 28 g butter (for suavizar the mofongo)
  • 120 ml chicken broth (hot, for the mofongo)
  • 120 g semi-firm white cheese (cut en bastones or cubes)
  • 100 g white onion (finely chopped)
  • 60 g sweet peppers (without semillas, chopped)
  • 140 g guava paste (diced)
  • 180 ml water (for the sauce)
  • 15 ml apple cider vinegar (for balancear the sauce)
  • 1 g dried oregano (for the sauce)
  • 1 g red pepper flakes (optional, for a picor suave)
  • 8 g fresh cilantro (chopped, for terminar)

Nutrition facts

per serving

520 kcal
Calories
42 g
Protein
29 g
Carbs
29 g
Fat
3 g
Fiber
26 g
Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

Dairy

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 400°F / 200°C.

  2. 2

    Season the chicken breasts on both sides with the homemade adobo seasoning, salt, black pepper, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Set aside while you make the filling.

  3. 3

    Place the yuca in a pot with enough water to cover and boil until tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, remove any tough center fibers, and keep warm.

  4. 4

    Mash the hot yuca in a pilón or large bowl with 2 crushed garlic cloves, the crispy pork cracklings, butter, and hot chicken broth. Mash until you get a soft, moldable mofongo. Mix in half of the white cheese.

  5. 5

    Open each chicken breast pocket fully and stuff with equal portions of the yuca mofongo and the remaining white cheese. Press gently to close; secure with toothpicks if needed.

  6. 6

    Heat an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Sear the stuffed chicken breasts for 2 to 3 minutes per side until lightly golden.

  7. 7

    Transfer the skillet to the oven and cook the breasts at 400°F / 200°C for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked. Remove and let rest for 5 minutes.

  8. 8

    While the chicken bakes, make the sauce. In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook the white onion, sweet peppers, and the remaining 2 minced garlic cloves with 2 tablespoons of water for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring, until softened.

  9. 9

    Add the guava paste, remaining water, apple cider vinegar, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring, until the paste melts into a glossy sauce. If desired, blend or mash slightly for a smoother texture.

  10. 10

    Serve each stuffed chicken breast with the spicy guava sauce spooned over or alongside, and finish with chopped fresh cilantro.

Chef tips

For a firmer filling, let the yuca mofongo cool for 10 minutes before stuffing. Do not overfill the chicken breasts so they hold their shape while searing.

Substitutions

You can substitute the white cheese with low-moisture mozzarella or firm queso fresco. If you do not have guava paste, use thick guava jam and reduce the water slightly. The pork cracklings can be omitted for a simpler version, though the traditional mofongo flavor will change.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

  • Illustrative image: Countertop blenderIllustrative image

    Ninja Professional BL610 Blender

    Smoothies, sauces and soups

    • Smoothies, sauces and soups
    • Easy-to-wash jar
    • Check the power and jar size
    View on Amazon
  • Illustrative image: Air fryerIllustrative image

    Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer

    Browning and baking with little oil

    • Browns food with very little oil
    • Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
    • Check the basket capacity
    View on Amazon
  • Illustrative image: Digital kitchen thermometerIllustrative image

    TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer

    Checking doneness of meat and chicken

    • Checks doneness of meat and chicken
    • Quick reading
    • Clean the probe after each use
    View on Amazon

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