Description
Cheesy Million Dollar Baked Chicken Breast with Cream Cheese & Bacon is a rich, comforting, and flavorful dish that combines tender chicken breasts stuffed with a creamy, cheesy filling and topped with crispy, smoky bacon. Perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions, this recipe is simple to prepare yet impressively indulgent, delivering a perfect balance of textures and tastes that families and friends will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Meat
- 4 chicken breasts
- 8–12 slices thick-cut bacon (2–3 slices per breast)
Cheese Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Seasonings
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Other
- Chopped green onions, for garnish (optional)
- Olive oil or butter, for searing
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Start by trimming and patting dry the chicken breasts. Using a sharp knife, carefully slice a pocket into the side of each chicken breast, creating space for the creamy filling without cutting all the way through.
- Make the Cream Cheese Filling: In a bowl, combine softened cream cheese with shredded cheddar, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until everything is evenly incorporated for that luscious, cheesy texture.
- Stuff the Chicken: Fill each chicken pocket generously with the cheese mixture, ensuring an even distribution to get a gooey melting center in every bite.
- Wrap with Bacon: Wrap each stuffed chicken breast with 2-3 slices of bacon, securing with toothpicks if necessary, so the bacon crisps up beautifully while keeping the cheese inside.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the wrapped chicken breasts on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 25-30 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and chicken is cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Garnish and Serve: Once baked, let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing. Sprinkle with chopped green onions or fresh herbs for color and a mild crunch.
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese for a smoother, silkier filling.
- Don’t overstuff the chicken pockets to prevent filling from leaking while baking.
- Choose thick-cut bacon for better crispiness without drying out too quickly.
- Pat chicken dry to ensure better searing or crisping and to avoid sogginess.
- Let the cooked chicken rest before slicing to keep it moist and tender.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed chicken breast with bacon
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg
Keywords: baked chicken, cheesy chicken breast, cream cheese chicken, bacon wrapped chicken, comfort food, easy chicken dinner