Creamy Bacon Chicken Delight (Printable Version)

Tender chicken layered with creamy cheese and crispy bacon, baked until golden and flavorful.

# Ingredients Required:

→ Bacon

01 - 4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced

→ Chicken

02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
04 - 1.8 kg boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 6–12 mm thickness
05 - Salt, to taste
06 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
07 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
08 - ½ teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika

→ Ranch cream cheese topping

09 - 113 g cream cheese, softened
10 - ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
11 - ¼ teaspoon onion powder
12 - ¼ teaspoon dried dill weed
13 - ½ teaspoon dried chives
14 - 113 g shredded cheddar cheese (white or yellow)

→ Garnish

15 - Chopped fresh parsley
16 - Sliced green scallions

# Guide to Cooking:

01 - Preheat oven to 200°C. Lightly grease a 23×33 cm baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
02 - Place diced bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook until crispy. Remove bacon and set aside, reserving the bacon fat.
03 - Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to the bacon fat in the skillet and heat. Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Sear chicken breasts in batches for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown, adding butter before flipping to brown the second side.
04 - Transfer seared chicken breasts to the prepared baking dish and set aside.
05 - In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill weed, and dried chives. Mix until smooth and adjust seasoning to taste.
06 - Spread about 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture evenly over each chicken breast, then sprinkle half of the cooked diced bacon on top.
07 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over each chicken breast. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
08 - Remove from oven and garnish with the remaining diced bacon, chopped parsley, and scallions before serving.

# Extra Suggestions:

01 - Pounding chicken breasts to an even thickness ensures even cooking and tenderness.

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