Andy Montoya
Chicken fillets wrapped in bacon and cheese are a versatile, easy-to-make meal that can be customised to your taste. The chicken is wrapped in bacon and baked, with the bacon's fat helping to keep the chicken juicy and moist. The smokiness of a spice rub pairs well with the bacon, and the addition of cheese creates a creamy texture. This dish can be served with a variety of sides, such as mashed potatoes, broccoli, or a salad, and can be customised with different types of cheese and seasonings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Chicken fillets, bacon, cheese, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, brown sugar, sage leaves |
| Preparation | Skin the chicken fillets, cut a pocket in each fillet, stuff with cheese, wrap in bacon, season, baste with olive oil, bake |
| Cooking Time | 30-40 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F |
| Serving Suggestions | Gratin of potatoes and leeks, broccoli, mac and cheese, roasted fingerling potatoes, crockpot carrots, garlicky sautéed spinach, Hawaiian rolls with salted butter, mashed cauliflower |
| Storage | Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days, reheat in the oven or microwave |
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What You'll Learn
How to prepare the chicken
To prepare the chicken, start by skinning 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Then, cut a pocket into the side of each breast and stuff each pocket with soft cheese—this could be goat's cheese, cream cheese, or cheddar cheese. Next, wrap each breast with 2 slices of rindless streaky bacon. You can also add some fresh sage leaves at this stage. Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish, seam-side down, and season with salt, black pepper, and olive oil.
If you want to add extra flavour, you can rub a mixture of brown sugar and spices onto the chicken before wrapping it in bacon. Spices could include smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and thyme.
For a juicier texture, you can precook the chicken and bacon in the microwave before placing it in the oven.
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How to prepare the bacon
Bacon is the perfect complement to boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The bacon's fat helps keep the chicken juicy and moist, while the chicken cooks. The contrast of the bacon's crunch with the chicken's juicy interior is what makes this dish so appealing.
When preparing the bacon, it is important to note that thick-cut bacon will take much longer to cook. If you like your bacon crispy, it is best to use regular bacon. You can also broil your chicken for about 2-3 minutes at the end of the cooking time to get that extra crisp.
To prepare the bacon, start by cutting two slices of bacon per chicken breast. You can use rindless streaky bacon or regular bacon. If you want to get creative, you can add some fresh sage leaves or other herbs between the chicken and the bacon. Wrap each chicken breast tightly with the bacon, making sure the ends of the bacon are tucked under the chicken to hold it in place.
If you are adding cheese to the recipe, you can place the cheese inside the chicken breast before wrapping it with bacon. This will ensure the cheese is sealed inside, and you can avoid the cheese melting and dripping while cooking.
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How to prepare the cheese
Preparing the cheese for this recipe depends on the type of cheese you are using.
If you are using soft goat's cheese, cut a pocket into the side of each chicken breast and stuff each pocket with 25g/1oz of the cheese.
If you are using a harder cheese, like cheddar, you can either grate or slice it. If you are grating the cheese, sprinkle it over the chicken and bacon once you have assembled and seasoned the dish. If you are slicing the cheese, you can place the slices inside the chicken breast before wrapping it in bacon.
For a creamier dish, you can use cream cheese. In this case, butterfly the chicken breasts and fill them with the cream cheese mixture, before wrapping them in bacon.
Remember to adjust the amount of cheese you use according to your preferences and the number of chicken breasts you are preparing.
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Oven temperature and cooking time
The oven temperature and cooking time for chicken fillets wrapped in bacon and cheese will depend on the recipe and your preference for crispy bacon. Most recipes recommend an oven temperature of around 350–375 °F (170–190 °C). At 375 °F, the chicken will take around 12 minutes to cook. At 375 °F, the chicken will take around 30–35 minutes to cook.
One source recommends an oven temperature of 375 °F (190 °C) and a cooking time of about 12 minutes for chicken breasts wrapped in bacon and smothered with BBQ sauce and Cheddar cheese. The source notes that the chicken is ready when the cheese is bubbly and the chicken is no longer pink in the center.
Another source provides a similar recipe, suggesting an oven temperature of 350 °F (177 °C) and a cooking time of 30–35 minutes. This source recommends checking if the chicken is cooked by inserting a sharp knife into the center of the parcel and leaving it for a few seconds. If the chicken is cooked, the knife should feel very hot when removed and touched. The chicken should also feel very firm when pressed with the back of a fork.
If you prefer crispier bacon, some sources suggest increasing the oven temperature to 375 °F and cooking for 35–40 minutes. One source recommends broiling for an additional 1–2 minutes to achieve crispier bacon.
It is important to note that oven temperatures and cooking times may vary, so it is always good to check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it has reached a safe temperature of 165 °F before serving.
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What to serve it with
There are many options for what to serve with chicken fillets wrapped in bacon and cheese. If you're looking for a carbohydrate-based side, you could serve the chicken with lemon rice or broccoli rice casserole. Mashed potatoes are another option, and if you want to get fancy, you could make a gratin of potatoes and leeks.
If you're looking for vegetable side dishes, roasted fingerling potatoes and crockpot carrots would go well with this chicken. Crispy air-fried broccoli or garlicky sautéed spinach are other tasty options. You could also serve the chicken with a salad, such as grilled corn salad with avocado and tomato, or pesto potato salad.
If you want to lean into the cheese aspect of the dish, you could serve it with mac and cheese. Or, if you're looking for something a little more unusual, grilled bacon-wrapped corn or classic coleslaw could be a good choice.
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Frequently asked questions
First, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Next, butterfly your chicken breasts and fill them with cheese. Wrap each breast with two slices of bacon and season with your favourite seasoning. Place the chicken breasts in a baking pan and roast for 30-35 minutes.
You can use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165°F. Alternatively, insert a sharp knife into the centre of the chicken and if the tip feels very hot when you pull it out, the chicken is cooked.
You can use any cheese you like! Popular options include cheddar, goat's cheese, and cream cheese.
Some side options include mashed potatoes, broccoli, mac and cheese, and coleslaw.
