Say hello to the irresistible Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast, wrapped in crispy bacon! This dish is a game-changer for any dinner party, and it’s absolutely delicious.
Not only does it taste incredible, but it’s also incredibly easy to make—perfect for when unexpected guests drop by. With just a few simple ingredients, you can have this mouthwatering dish ready in under an hour!
I’ve been making this exact recipe since my teenage years, and it’s been a favorite in my household ever since. It’s the perfect combination of creamy, savory, and crispy that never disappoints.
INGREDIENTS
- 4 Chicken Breasts
- 500g Bacon (3-4 slices per chicken breast)
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 oz Cream Cheese (softened)
- 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese (shredded)
- ⅓ cup Parmesan Cheese (shredded)
- 4-5 Cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon Thyme
- 3 stalks Green Onions (diced)
- Salt and Pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare the chicken breasts: Butterfly and pound the chicken breasts to about ¼” – ½” thickness. Lay the butterflied chicken breasts cut side up on a cutting board and cover with plastic wrap to prevent splatter while pounding.
- Pound the chicken using a meat mallet until it reaches the desired thickness. Set aside.
- Make the cream cheese filling: In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, parmesan, minced garlic, thyme, and diced green onions. Use a spatula to mash the ingredients together into a smooth paste.
- Stuff the chicken breasts: Divide the filling evenly into 4 portions (about ¼ – ⅓ cup per chicken breast). Spread the filling across the center of each butterflied chicken breast, ensuring it covers the entire surface. Roll each chicken breast tightly, seam side down.
- Wrap with bacon: Begin wrapping the bacon around each stuffed chicken breast, ensuring it’s completely covered. Overlap the bacon slightly as you work your way down the breast. Repeat for all chicken breasts.
- Bake: Place the bacon-wrapped chicken breasts in an oven-safe baking dish and bake for 45 minutes.
- Broil for extra crispiness: After baking, set the oven to broil on high for 5 minutes to crisp up the bacon.
- Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. You may notice some filling has spilled out during baking—use this to spoon over the chicken as a flavorful sauce.
HOW TO BUTTERFLY A CHICKEN BREAST
- Lay the chicken breast flat on a cutting board.
- Place your non-dominant hand on top of the chicken to steady it.
- Using a sharp knife, slice horizontally through the chicken breast, stopping about ¾ of the way through. Don’t cut all the way through.
- Open the chicken like a book to reveal the butterfly shape. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts.
NUTRITION (PER SERVING)
- Calories: 1166
- Carbs: 9g
- Protein: 104g
- Fat: 77g
- Saturated Fat: 32g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 28g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Cholesterol: 350mg
- Sodium: 2873mg
- Potassium: 1615mg
- Fiber: 0.4g
- Sugar: 3g
- Vitamin A: 1225 IU
- Vitamin C: 6mg
- Calcium: 388mg
- Iron: 2mg
