Easy Chicken Bacon Recipe with Cheese | My Montana Kitchen (2024)

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This easy chicken with bacon and cheese couldn't be any easier! Juicy and tender chicken smothered in melty cheese and crispy bacon.

I love a good easy recipe! This absolutely delicious chicken breast recipe comes together in 5 minutes, and it makes a great weeknight chicken dinner!

Plus this dish is completely keto-friendly, gluten-free, low-carb, and it's a great Trim Healthy Mama S Chicken recipe!

EASY CHICKEN RECIPE

This easy chicken with bacon is the perfect quick dinner recipe! With only 5 minutes of prep time, it's incredibly easy to make.

You can easily serve this dish over cauliflower rice, but you can also serve it with mashed cauliflower or just a simple wedge salad.

You can even eat the leftovers cold right out of the refrigerator (slice it thin and it's great on salad)!

BENEFITS OF EATING CHICKEN

Chicken breast is one of the healthiest foods you can eat!

It's low in fat, it's high in protein, and it contains some great nutrients.

Chicken also provides selenium, phosphorus, niacin, Vitamin B6, potassium.

It never hurts to have more protein on hand for quick healthy meals - which is why I love this easy chicken with bacon recipe so much!

How to Cook Chicken Breast with Bacon

I’m all about easy dinner ideas, and this chicken bacon recipe is just about as easy as it gets!

Simply layer all the ingredients in your baking dish and pop it in the oven. Really, that’s all! (Can you believe how simple that is?)

Now you have some time to sit down and put your feet up!

Can I Cook with Frozen Chicken?

Yes, you absolutely can use frozen chicken in this recipe!

In fact, that is how I have usually made this dish.

Simply take the desired number of chicken breasts from your freezer, place them in your pan, sprinkle with toppings, and place the chicken breasts in the oven.

It is important to note that frozen chicken usually takes about twice as long to cook as thawed chicken, so you will need to plan accordingly.

You definitely want to make sure your chicken breasts are fully cooked!

The best way to know when your chicken is done is to use a digital or analog meat thermometer to measure 160 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

When your chicken has reached this temperature at the thickest part, it should be done.

How Can I Defrost Chicken Quickly?

You can quickly defrost your chicken in the microwave.

Just place it on a plate, cover it with a paper towel, and pop it in for about 1 minute per breast at medium power.

You can certainly use the defrost button on your microwave if you have one. (Please note that times will vary according to the type of microwave you have.)

You can also easily thaw the chicken in a bowl of hot water.

Run a bowl of hot tap water (around 140 degrees).

Place the frozen chicken in the water, and stir every little while (this keeps pockets of cold water from forming).

Your chicken should be thawed in less than half an hour!

HOW TO MAKE BACON CHEDDAR CHICKEN

First of all, you want to preheat your oven. Then grab your 2 qt or 9×13 baking dish. Add chicken breasts (fresh or frozen) to the bottom of the pan.

Sprinkle chicken with bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and garlic salt. That's really all there is to it!

See, so easy!

If you don't have garlic salt, you can use garlic powder instead, then just add a sprinkle of mineral salt.

This easy chicken recipe is sure to be on repeat in your kitchen. (You could even put all the ingredients in your crockpot, and cook on low all day long!)

I have cooked mine straight from frozen and it was still not quite finished after about an hour.

I would recommend allowing 1.5-2 hours of cook time to make sure it is adequately cooked.

All that being said, the prep part is only 5 minutes, but it will take a while to bake if you use frozen chicken.

I love dishes that you can put in the oven and forget! (Just don't completely forget it, ok?)

CAN I USE BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN THIGHS FOR THIS RECIPE?

Yes, you can certainly use boneless skinless chicken thighs in this recipe.

However, you still want to make sure the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

If cooking from frozen, I would recommend checking them after about one hour of bake time and then every 10 minutes until they have reached this temperature.

Also, I can tell you from experience, if your bacon is not crispy enough for your liking before putting the dish into the oven, you could always fry up your bacon separately or place it under your broiler for a few minutes to achieve desired crispiness!

(Because who doesn't like bacon chicken?)

CAN I USE CHICKEN TENDERS FOR THIS RECIPE?

Yes, you can use chicken tenders for this recipe. Be sure to reduce your cook time.

I would recommend checking the internal temperature after 30 minutes of bake time and every 10 minutes until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

CAN I ADD OTHER INGREDIENTS TO THE BACON CHEDDAR CHICKEN RECIPE?

If you'd like additional ingredients in your dish, consider adding mushrooms or onion slices to the top of the chicken before you add the cheese.

Either of these will help flavor your dish even more!

How to Make Bacon Cheddar Chicken

First of all, you want to preheat your oven. Then grab your 2 qt or 9x13 baking dish. Lay the chicken breasts (fresh or frozen) in the bottom of the pan.

Sprinkle the bacon, cheese, and garlic salt on top of the chicken breasts. That’s really all there is to it! See, so easy! (You could even put all the ingredients in your crockpot, and cook on low all day long!)

I have cooked mine straight from frozen and it was still not quite finished after about an hour. I would recommend allowing 1.5-2 hours cook time to make sure it is adequately cooked.

All that being said, the prep part is only 5 minutes, but it will take a while to bake if you use frozen chicken. I love dishes that you can put in the oven and forget!

TRY THESE SEASONINGS TO ADD MORE FLAVOR TO YOUR BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREAST RECIPE

To add even more flavor to your dish, consider adding one of these seasonings:

Add a sprinkle of any of these seasonings or a mix of several seasonings to the top of your chicken breast before you bake it!

• Paprika
• Oregano
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Marjoram
• Basil
• Cayenne pepper
• Chili powder

You can also add in some minced garlic or green onions when you sprinkle the chicken with garlic salt.

You could even add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for a kick!

CAN I MEAL PREP THIS RECIPE OVER THE WEEKEND?

Absolutely, this recipe is easy to make on your day(s) off.

You can prepare the ingredients and pop them into your 2-quart dish before work, then bake when you get home. (Store the dish in the fridge while you are away.)

Or if you prefer to meal prep on the day of eating, you can dump all the ingredients into your baking dish and pop it in the fridge until needed.

It will be ready to bake when you are!

CAN I FREEZE BACON CHICKEN?

Yes, you can freeze this recipe for later use.

If you plan to freeze your dish, I would recommend putting all the ingredients in a freezer bag and squeezing out as much air as possible.

Lay flat in your freezer and it should be ready for baking within 3-4 months!

CAN I USE DIFFERENT CUTS OF CHICKEN?

Absolutely, you can use whatever type of chicken works best for you.

Boneless skinless chicken breast, boneless skinless thighs, or even bone-in chicken pieces would work great in this dish.

You may have to adjust the baking time for various cuts of chicken. You may need to bake a bit longer or a bit less, depending on the cut and whether it is fresh or frozen.

Regardless of your cooking method, always make sure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit before eating!

CHICKEN AND BACON RECIPES FOR DINNER

You can easily transform this basic dish into several different dinner ideas.

If you are not a fan of cheddar cheese then use mozzarella or even pepper jack.

What about different seasonings?

Not into garlic salt? Use some taco seasoning instead!

You could even add in some barbecue sauce or buffalo sauce to spice it up!

Sprinkle a can of green chiles over the chicken breasts before topping with the bacon and cheese for a Green Chile Chicken and Bacon bake!

Spoon a little bit of salsa on top of the chicken breast, and use taco seasoning in place of the garlic salt for Cheesy Chicken and Bacon Taco bake!

Add a few sun-dried tomatoes to your casserole for Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken and Bacon!

Use onion powder, garlic salt, and pepper as a rub on the chicken before adding it to your casserole dish for a flavorful twist!

Use cream cheese instead of cheddar for Creamy Bacon Chicken!

Add 2 tablespoons of pesto to the dish for a Pesto Chicken and Bacon!

Add some sliced jalapeños and use Pepper Jack Cheese to add some heat to the original recipe!

Spread some ranch dressing over the boneless skinless chicken breasts, then top with bacon and mozzarella cheese for a chicken bacon ranch recipe!

CAN I MAKE THIS CHICKEN DINNER IN THE SLOW COOKER?

Yes! You can make this dish in your slow cooker by first coating the chicken with garlic salt and placing it into the bottom of your slow cooker.

(You'll want to spray your slow cooker liner with cooking spray or olive oil first.)

Top with bacon and shredded cheddar cheese.

Cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees.

CAN I MAKE THIS CHICKEN RECIPE IN THE AIR FRYER?

Yes! Make sure to bake the chicken at 400 degrees for half the time specified.

But again, make sure the internal temperature is 165 to be sure the chicken is thoroughly cooked.

WHAT SIDE DISHES SHOULD I SERVE WITH CHEESY BACON CHICKEN?

When it comes to side dishes that go well with cheesy bacon chicken, you'll want something that will complement the dish.

Here are a few easy side dishes:

• Mashed cauliflower
• Easy Wedge Salad with Ranch Dressing
• Oven Roasted Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cauliflower rice

OTHER THM CHICKEN RECIPES

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast with Jalapeño Cream Sauce

This Cheesy Bacon Chicken is a quick and easy way to enjoy a healthy meal with the flavors you love.

I hope you enjoy this dinner as much as we do!