Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Chicken

Total Time

Prep: 25 min. Bake: 35 min.

Makes

6 servings

Updated: Sep. 13, 2023
Tender chicken gets a special treatment when spread with a creamy filling and wrapped with tasty bacon strips. This easy bacon-wrapped stuffed chicken recipe is frequently requested by my bunch. —MarlaKaye Skinner, Tucson, Arizona

Ingredients

  • 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)
  • 1 carton (8 ounces) spreadable chive and onion cream cheese
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 6 bacon strips

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°. Flatten chicken to 1/2-in. thickness. Spread 3 tablespoons cream cheese over each. Dot with butter and sprinkle with salt; roll up. Wrap each with bacon strip, securing with toothpicks if necessary.
  2. Place seam side down in a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 165°, 35-40 minutes. Broil 6 in. from the heat for 5 minutes or until bacon is crisp. Remove toothpicks before serving.
Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Chicken Tips

What kind of bacon should you use for bacon-wrapped stuffed chicken?

It’s best to use thin-cut bacon for bacon-wrapped recipes like stuffed chicken. Thin-cut bacon wraps around the chicken more easily, and also cooks more evenly. Thick-cut bacon will work in a pinch, but it won’t get as crispy, so you’ll miss out on that deliciously crisp outer layer.

What else can you stuff inside bacon-wrapped chicken?

You can stuff bacon-wrapped chicken with a variety of fillings. If you don’t have cream cheese on hand, try using other soft cheeses like goat cheese. Other types of cheese such as mozzarella, feta or cheddar work well as a stuffing, too. Feel free to customize the stuffing by adding herbs or vegetables like spinach or pickled jalapenos.

Can the chicken still stay pink when wrapped in bacon?

It is possible for the chicken to remain slightly pink when wrapped in bacon. The nitrates in the bacon could tinge the chicken pink, or the chicken can have a pink hue from a pigment in the meat called myoglobin. The best way to know when the chicken is done cooking is when the meat (and the stuffing) reach an internal temperature of 165°.

How long will bacon-wrapped stuffed chicken last?

Bacon-wrapped stuffed chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it is good for 3 to 4 days.

Can you make bacon-wrapped stuffed chicken in advance?

To make bacon-wrapped stuffed chicken in advance, you can prepare each component so it is ready to wrap. If you’re making your own stuffing instead of using the spreadable cream cheese, you can prepare it a few days before you plan to serve the dish. You can also flatten the chicken beforehand. Alternatively, you can prepare the whole recipe by stuffing and wrapping the chicken ahead of time, storing the uncooked stuffed chicken in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before cooking it.

Lindsay Mattison, Taste of Home Contributing Writer

Nutrition Facts

1 chicken breast half: 414 calories, 26g fat (12g saturated fat), 142mg cholesterol, 631mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 40g protein.