Baked Coxinhas with Cream Cheese and Shredded Chicken Filling
Golden baked Brazilian coxinhas filled with tender shredded chicken and cream cheese, shaped into teardrops for a perfect handheld snack. This brazilian-inspired snacks ready in about 70 minutes turns water, cube chicken bouillon cube, unsalted butter into a satisfying snack for between meals, packed lunches, or game-day spreads — minimal active time and easy to scale up for a crowd. Each serving lands at about 260 calories and feeds 8, so it fits into lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon-energy gap without derailing the day. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 (about 1 lb) chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 4 cups water
- 1 cube chicken bouillon cube
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, for dusting
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 cup bread crumbs
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large pot, bring 4 cups water and 1 chicken bouillon cube to a boil. Add 2 chicken breasts and simmer for 20 minutes until cooked through. Remove chicken and reserve broth.
- Step 2: Shred the cooked chicken finely using two forks.
- Step 3: In a skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 1 small finely chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves, sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent.
- Step 4: Add shredded chicken, 2 tbsp chopped parsley, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the skillet. Stir to combine and cook for 2 more minutes, then remove from heat and stir in 4 oz cream cheese until creamy.
- Step 5: In a separate saucepan, heat 3 tbsp unsalted butter with 1 cup whole milk and 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour mixed slowly into reserved chicken broth (about 2 cups) until a thick dough forms and pulls away from the pan, stirring constantly.
- Step 6: Let dough cool slightly, then dust a clean surface with 1/4 cup flour and knead dough until smooth.
- Step 7: Pinch off a golf-ball-sized piece of dough, flatten in your palm, place 1-2 tbsp chicken filling in the center, and shape dough around filling into a teardrop shape.
- Step 8: Dip each coxinha in 1 beaten egg, then roll in 1 cup bread crumbs to coat evenly.
- Step 9: Place coxinhas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated oven at 375°F for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
- Step 10: Serve warm as a snack or appetizer.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Baked Coxinhas with Cream Cheese and Shredded Chicken Filling take to make?
Total time is about 70 minutes (40 min prep + 30 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Baked Coxinhas with Cream Cheese and Shredded Chicken Filling?
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for crisp items, or in the fridge for anything dairy- or produce-based, for up to 3–5 days. Re-crisp baked snacks in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes if they soften.
Can I substitute ingredients in Baked Coxinhas with Cream Cheese and Shredded Chicken Filling?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Baked Coxinhas with Cream Cheese and Shredded Chicken Filling for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 8 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 8). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Baked Coxinhas with Cream Cheese and Shredded Chicken Filling?
Brazilian snacks like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.