Description
At its heart, baked chicken and spinach stuffed puff pastry braids is a savory pastry dish where rich filling is wrapped inside layered dough that is cut, crisscrossed, and baked to perfection. The visual appeal comes from the woven pattern created on top of the pastry, which resembles a beautifully styled braid. Beyond its attractive presentation, the braid serves a practical purpose: it holds a substantial amount of rich filling while allowing steam to escape through small gaps during baking, keeping the crust crisp rather than soggy.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 4 oz (115 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Salt, to taste
Pastry
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds or everything bagel seasoning (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion for 3–4 minutes until softened, then add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in the spinach and cook until wilted. Remove from the heat.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken, spinach mixture, cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, paprika, pepper, and salt. Mix until well combined.
- Unfold one sheet of puff pastry onto the prepared baking tray. Place half of the filling in a long strip down the center, leaving a border around the edges.
- Cut diagonal strips about 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide along both sides of the pastry. Fold the strips alternately over the filling to create a braided pattern. Repeat with the second pastry sheet.
- Brush both braids with the beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds or everything bagel seasoning, if using.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and deeply golden brown.
- Let cool for 5–10 minutes before slicing.
- Serve warm with a green salad, marinara sauce, garlic aioli, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
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- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 380 kcal
Keywords: chicken spinach puff pastry braid, savory chicken pastry braid, chicken spinach braided pastry, stuffed chicken puff pastry