Bacon and Cheese Smothered Chicken
This delightful chicken dish, inspired by a restaurant favorite, is now easily recreated at home. Tender chicken breasts are topped with crispy bacon, caramelized onions, and a generous layer of melted cheese, creating a savory and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (approximately 6 ounces each)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 8 bacon strips
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and lemon-pepper seasoning.
- In a large skillet, heat the canola oil over medium heat.
- Cook the chicken breasts until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F, about 6-8 minutes per side.
- Once cooked, remove the chicken from the skillet and keep warm.
- In the same skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until it becomes crisp.
- Transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease, then crumble it into small pieces.
- Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings in the skillet.
- Add the thinly sliced onion and brown sugar to the skillet, and sauté over medium heat until the onions are tender and caramelized, stirring occasionally.
- Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet.
- Top each chicken breast with the crumbled bacon and caramelized onion mixture.
- Sprinkle the shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the top of each chicken breast.
- Cover the skillet and cook over low heat for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve the smothered chicken breasts hot, garnished with fresh herbs if desired.
Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:
Adjust the cooking time of the chicken breasts based on their thickness to ensure they are fully cooked but still tender and juicy.
For a lower-fat option, you can use turkey bacon instead of regular bacon.
Feel free to customize the cheese topping with your favorite blend, such as cheddar, mozzarella, or Swiss.
For a lower-fat option, you can use turkey bacon instead of regular bacon.
Feel free to customize the cheese topping with your favorite blend, such as cheddar, mozzarella, or Swiss.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 560 kcal | Carbohydrates: 17 g | Protein: 45 g | Fat: 34 g | Sugar: 15 g
