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Crack Chicken Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 74 reviews

Crack Chicken is a flavorful and creamy baked dish featuring tender boneless skinless chicken breasts topped with a rich mixture of cream cheese, garlic, herbs, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar cheese. This comforting recipe combines savory bacon, soft cheeses, and aromatic seasonings baked to golden perfection, perfect for an easy and satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Poultry

  • 4 slices thick cut bacon, diced
  • 4 (1-pound total) boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to ¼-inch thickness

Oils and Fats

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Seasonings

  • Salt, to taste
  • Fresh ground pepper, to taste
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder (for chicken seasoning)
  • ½ teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder (for cream cheese mixture)
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon dried dill weed
  • ½ teaspoon dried chives

Dairy

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (white or yellow)

Garnishes

  • Chopped fresh parsley
  • Sliced green scallions

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven: Set your oven to 400˚F to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking the chicken.
  2. Prepare baking dish: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking and set it aside.
  3. Cook bacon: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the diced bacon, and cook until it is crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet but keep the bacon fat in the pan for added flavor.
  4. Add oil: Return the skillet to heat and add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the bacon fat to prepare for cooking the chicken.
  5. Season chicken: Pound the chicken breasts evenly to about ¼ to ½-inch thickness, then season both sides with salt, fresh ground pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika.
  6. Sear chicken: Add the chicken breasts to the hot skillet in batches if necessary. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the bottom is golden brown.
  7. Flip and add butter: Flip the chicken breasts, add 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet, and cook for an additional 2 minutes until they are browned on the other side.
  8. Transfer chicken: Remove the chicken from the skillet and arrange the breasts in the prepared baking dish.
  9. Prepare cream cheese mixture: In a small bowl, mix the softened cream cheese with ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon dried dill weed, and ½ teaspoon dried chives until well combined. Adjust seasoning to taste if needed.
  10. Top chicken: Spread 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture evenly over each chicken breast in the baking dish.
  11. Add bacon: Sprinkle half of the cooked, diced bacon over the cream cheese layer on each piece of chicken.
  12. Sprinkle cheese: Evenly distribute the shredded cheddar cheese over the bacon-topped chicken breasts.
  13. Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 15 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through and the cheese is melted and bubbly with light browning.
  14. Garnish and serve: After baking, garnish the crack chicken with freshly chopped parsley and sliced green scallions for added color and flavor before serving.

Notes

  • Ensure chicken breasts are pounded evenly for uniform cooking.
  • If desired, use smoked paprika for a deeper smoky flavor, or sweet paprika for a mild taste.
  • Adjust the seasoning in the cream cheese mixture to suit your taste preferences.
  • You can substitute cheddar with pepper jack or Monterey Jack cheese for a different twist.
  • Save the remaining bacon to sprinkle on top when serving for extra crispiness if desired.
  • Make sure to cook chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165˚F for safe consumption.
  • This recipe pairs well with steamed vegetables, rice, or a fresh salad.

Keywords: crack chicken, creamy chicken recipe, bacon chicken, baked chicken, easy chicken dinner, cheesy chicken

Find it online: https://reemcook.com/crack-chicken-recipe/