- Bacon-wrapped chicken breasts stay juicy and gain a wonderful smoky taste.
- This recipe requires nothing more than chicken breasts, bacon, and your preferred seasoning.
- Stretching the bacon before wrapping leads to a crispier texture and simplifies the process.
As someone who thinks about food more often than the average person, I often find myself pondering, “How can I make this delicious?” It’s part of my background as a dietitian, where I’ve spent considerable time showing others that healthy food can indeed be tasty. Plus, I personally prefer eating flavorful dishes.
Chicken breasts can be quite dull if not prepared creatively. That’s where bacon comes into play. Just a sprinkle of spices and wrapping the chicken in bacon can turn a simple meal into something exceptional.
Guidance for Crafting Perfect Bacon-Wrapped Chicken
When shopping, check the size of the chicken breasts in the package before adding it to your cart. Ideally, each breast should weigh about seven or eight ounces for optimal results with this recipe.
While other sizes can be used, adjustments might be necessary. Smaller breasts might cook quicker, whereas larger pieces may need to be flattened and require a longer cooking time to ensure even heat distribution. Aim for a pack of two breasts that together weigh around one pound or slightly more, ensuring they are about the same size for uniform cooking.
Simply Recipes / Sara Haas
Handy Bacon Tip
To wrap the chicken more easily, stretch the bacon strips before using. Just place a strip on a cutting board, hold one end, and gently pull while sliding the back of a knife along the bacon. This method stretches rather than tears the bacon, making it simpler to wrap around the chicken and helping the fat render more quickly during cooking, resulting in crispy bacon enveloping succulent chicken.
A Simple Twist
The bacon itself infuses great flavor, but adding a spice blend to the chicken before wrapping enhances it even more. I prefer a kick, so I often opt for Cajun or jerk seasoning. However, other spice mixes like harissa or za’atar are also excellent choices.
You’ll need about two tablespoons of seasoning to thoroughly coat the chicken. If your chosen spice blend is low on salt, make sure to season the chicken breasts with some salt before applying the spices.
20-Minute Bacon Chicken
For extra crispy bacon, finish with an additional few minutes under the broiler. Watch it carefully to make sure the bacon doesn’t burn.
Keep Screen Awake
Ingredients
-
2 (8 to 10-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
-
1/2 to 1 teaspoon kosher salt (use the smaller amount if your Cajun seasoning contains salt)
-
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
-
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (adjust as needed, depending on how salty your seasoning is)
-
8 slices (about 4 ounces) bacon
Method
-
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Position a rack in the middle of the oven and place a 12-inch cast-iron skillet to preheat.
-
Prepare the chicken:
Cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally to form 4 thin cutlets. Season both sides with salt and black pepper (adjust based on your seasoning’s salt content), followed by the Cajun seasoning.
Encase each cutlet with two strips of bacon, ensuring the chicken is fully covered; overlapping is fine.
Simply Recipes / Sara Haas
-
Similar Posts
- Discover the Ultimate Southern Onion Boil: Your New Favorite Side Dish!
- Cured vs. Uncured Bacon: Does the Taste Really Differ?
- One-Pan Chicken Dinner Recipe: Quick & Delicious!
- Discover ALDI’s $1.19 Thanksgiving Secret Ingredient That Elevates Every Dish!
- 19 Quick Dinner Ideas for When You’re Too Tired to Cook
Riley Morgan simplifies health and wellness topics, providing readers with practical advice and insights. Dedicated to empowering others, Riley covers everything from mental health to medical breakthroughs.
