Creamy Bacon Cheddar Chicken (Printable Version)

Tender chicken breasts smothered with creamy cheese and smoky bacon, baked with herbs till everything's melty-good and lush.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approx. 450 g), pounded to 0.5 cm thickness

→ Dairy

02 - 113 g cream cheese, softened
03 - 113 g shredded cheddar cheese, white or yellow
04 - 1 tablespoon (14 g) unsalted butter

→ Vegetables and Aromatics

05 - Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
06 - Sliced green scallions, for garnish

→ Herbs and Spices

07 - Salt, to taste
08 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
09 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder, divided
10 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
11 - 0.25 teaspoon onion powder
12 - 0.25 teaspoon dried dill weed
13 - 0.5 teaspoon dried chives

→ Fats and Oils

14 - 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil

→ Prepared Meats

15 - 4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Preheat oven to 204°C. Ensure oven rack is centered.
02 - Lightly grease a 23x33 cm baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
03 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook diced bacon until crisp, about 7 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside. Reserve bacon fat in skillet.
04 - Add vegetable oil to skillet with reserved bacon fat. Season pounded chicken breasts on both sides with salt, pepper, 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder, and paprika. Sear chicken in batches if needed—2–3 minutes per side until golden.
05 - Turn chicken breasts, add butter to pan, and cook 2 more minutes until browned but not fully cooked through.
06 - Transfer seared chicken breasts to prepared baking dish in a single layer.
07 - In a small bowl, blend softened cream cheese, remaining 0.25 teaspoon garlic powder, onion powder, dill weed, and chives until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
08 - Spread approximately 2 tablespoons of cream cheese mixture evenly over each chicken breast. Sprinkle with half of the cooked bacon.
09 - Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese over the top of each chicken breast. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and cheese is melted and golden at the edges.
10 - Remove from oven. Sprinkle with remaining bacon, chopped parsley, and sliced scallions. Let rest 2 minutes before serving.

# Additional Notes:

01 - Taste and adjust the cream cheese mixture with herbs, salt, or a dash of hot sauce to suit your preference.
02 - Turkey bacon and reduced-fat cheese may be used for a lighter variation, though texture will vary slightly.

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