Description
A quick and easy dinner recipe featuring chicken breasts wrapped in crispy bacon with melty cheese, delivering juicy, flavorful layers in just five simple steps.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs / 680g), preferably thinner or butterflied
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese (100g)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Optional: 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs (thyme or rosemary)
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Butterfly thick breasts if needed. Season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken breasts for about 2 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Remove chicken from skillet and let cool slightly. Wrap each breast with two overlapping slices of bacon.
- Place wrapped chicken on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15-18 minutes until bacon is crispy and chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) internal temperature. Optionally broil 1-2 minutes for extra crispiness.
- Remove from oven, sprinkle shredded cheese over chicken, and return to oven for 2-3 minutes until cheese melts. Serve hot.
Notes
Do not skip searing the chicken to lock in juices and add flavor. Use thick-cut bacon for best wrapping and crispiness. Let chicken rest after searing before wrapping. Watch bacon closely under broiler to avoid burning. Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to 165°F (74°C).
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bacon-wrapped chic
- Calories: 380
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Protein: 38
Keywords: chicken bacon wrap, quick dinner, easy chicken recipe, crispy bacon, juicy chicken, baked chicken, cheesy chicken, weeknight dinner