Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Bacon and Cream Cheese

Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 55 min
Servings: 6
Yield: 6 servings

Description

Tender chicken breasts are stuffed with a tasty mixture of cream cheese, bacon, Cheddar, and cilantro for a mouthwatering, company-worthy dinner recipe.

Ingredients

1 pound bacon
6 (5 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
1/4 cup chopped green onions, or to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, or to taste
1 tablespoon minced garlic

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet and a baking pan with aluminum foil.
2 Arrange bacon slices on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
3 Cook in the preheated oven until browned and crisp, about 15 minutes. Drain bacon on a paper towel-lined plate, then chop. Keep the oven on.
4 Slice chicken breasts horizontally, without going all the way through. Set aside.
5 Combine cream cheese, ¼ cup Cheddar cheese, green onions, cilantro, and garlic in a bowl; stir in chopped bacon to combine.
6 Open chicken breasts at hinge points (like a book); spread cream cheese mixture in a thin layer over each breast. Close breasts; transfer to the prepared baking pan.
7 Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Top stuffed chicken breasts with remaining ½ cup cheese; continue baking until chicken is no longer pink in centers and the juices run clear, about 10 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into centers should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Cool slightly before serving.