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Million Dollar Chicken Recipe

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4.1 from 14 reviews

Million Dollar Chicken is a decadent and flavorful weeknight dish featuring tender, flattened chicken breasts topped with a rich cream cheese, cheddar, and bacon mixture. Baked to perfection, this recipe combines creamy, spicy, and crunchy textures for a satisfying and easy-to-make meal.

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 4 (8-oz.) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 3/4 tsp. black pepper, divided

Cream Cheese Mixture

  • 4 oz. cream cheese (about 1/2 cup), softened
  • 4 oz. sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 4 (2 1/2 oz. total) thick-cut bacon slices, cooked and chopped (about 3/4 cup)
  • 1 tsp. hot sauce (such as Tabasco)
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 3 large scallions, thinly sliced (about 1/3 cup), divided
  • 1/3 cup sliced almonds, lightly toasted, divided

Instructions

  1. Prepare oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place a large rimmed baking sheet inside the oven while it preheats to ensure it is hot and ready for baking the chicken later.
  2. Flatten chicken: Place each chicken breast between two sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, gently pound each breast until it is about 1/2-inch thick. Remove and discard the plastic wrap, then transfer the flattened chicken breasts onto a sheet of parchment paper. Season both sides evenly with kosher salt and half a teaspoon of black pepper.
  3. Make cream cheese mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, and mayonnaise until smooth. Stir in the cooked, chopped bacon, hot sauce, garlic powder, 3 tablespoons of sliced scallions, 3 tablespoons of toasted almonds, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper until well incorporated.
  4. Top chicken with cream cheese mixture: Evenly spread about 1/2 cup of the cream cheese mixture over the top of each chicken breast. Remove the preheated baking sheet from the oven and place it on a heat-proof surface. Using the parchment paper, carefully transfer the topped chicken breasts onto the hot baking sheet.
  5. Bake chicken, garnish, and serve: Bake the chicken in the oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until the cheese topping is melted and bubbly, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 165°F (74°C). Remove from oven and sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of toasted almonds and 2 tablespoons of sliced scallions evenly over the chicken. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • For extra crispiness, you can broil the chicken for 1-2 minutes at the end of baking, but watch carefully to avoid burning.
  • If thick-cut bacon is unavailable, use regular bacon but reduce cooking time to avoid overcooking.
  • Feel free to substitute almonds with pecans or walnuts for a different nutty flavor.
  • Leftover chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven to maintain crispiness.

Find it online: https://lauracooks.com/million-dollar-chicken-recipe/