Bacon Chicken—Otherwise Known as Nirvana Food for the Bacon Lovers Among Us
This post is linked to Allergy-Free Wednesdays and Gluten-Free Wednesdays.
One of my family’s very favorite recipes was found online when I was trying to make a recipe using ingredients I already had on hand. Sound familiar? Yes, you’ve read about me doing this same thing many, many times here at gfe. It’s my main M.O. in the kitchen. So I had chicken, bacon, and cheddar cheese. The Bacon Chicken recipe I found only required a few more ingredients, namely, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Those are my typical pantry items—and beloved ones at that—so there was no problem there. The “problem” came into play when I wanted to make this recipe dairy free. Could one convert a recipe that required 1 ½ cups of cheese to dairy free … and delicious? It turned out to be an easy “conversion.” I simply left out the cheese and used a small amount of red bell pepper to create a sweet flavorful oomph, if you will. I also added the Sun-Dried Tomato Jalapeno Majestic Garlic Spread that I love, which adds its own “cheesy oomph,” but this recipe still works fine without it. It turns out that it’s the bacon-onion-garlic topping combo that really elevates this recipe to “family favorite.”
Be forewarned … make this dish knowing that unless you have lots of other side dishes, there are unlikely to be leftovers. This Bacon Chicken is just that good! Last, I’m linking the recipe to the kickoff of Megan’s (Allergy-Free Alaska, formerly M.A.I.D. in Alaska) new weekly roundup, Whole Foods Friday. Head on over and check out all the whole foods, real food recipes that are shared this week!
Bacon Chicken (Gluten Free, Dairy Free, and More)
(Click here for a printable version of this recipe.)3 to 4 boneless chicken breasts
6 slices bacon (I use uncured, nitrate-free bacon)
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup red bell pepper, chopped fine
½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp pepper
1 tsp Sun-Dried Tomato Jalapeno Pepper Majestic Garlic Spread (optional)Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Using kitchen shears, cut the chicken breasts into smaller pieces. I recommend cutting each chicken breast into two or three pieces lengthwise.
In deep skillet, cook bacon until crisp (about 4 minutes on medium to medium-high heat, turning over as needed with tongs or a spatula). Remove bacon and set aside on a plate. (Do not drain bacon drippings from skillet.)
Saute chicken breasts in bacon drippings for about 8 to 10 minutes.
Transfer chicken breasts to baking dish. (I use a 9 x 13 glass baking dish, which I line with aluminum foil.)
Saute onion, garlic, and red pepper in remaining drippings in skillet. Stir in salt and pepper.
Crumble bacon strips and add to the mixture.
Stir in Majestic Garlic Spread, if used.
Spoon mixture over chicken breasts in the baking dish, distributing equally.
Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake chicken breasts for about 12 to 15 minutes longer.
Recipe adapted from busycooks.com
Shirley’s Notes: Six slices of bacon does not yield a large amount of drippings, aka bacon grease. But if you are absolutely bacon grease phobic, you may drain the grease (no need to wipe skillet) and add about 2 tbsp of oil of your choice to replace it. I order Majestic Garlic Spread online. (I am not affiliated with this product; I am simply an addicted fan.) Sometimes when I make this dish, I cheat and skip the step of partially cooking the chicken breasts in the skillet. In that case, I place chicken breast pieces in baking dish, top with garlic-onion mixture, cover, and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This method yields more liquid in the baking dish, but still works just fine. While I’m not phobic about bacon drippings, I am about undercooked chicken, so please adjust your cooking time if you know from experience that you need less time to achieve perfectly cooked chicken.
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Comments
44 Responses to “Bacon Chicken—Otherwise Known as Nirvana Food for the Bacon Lovers Among Us”
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You had me at bacon and chicken. This looks divine!
Hi Lydia–That’s usually the case when a bacon recipe “pops up” and one is a bacon lover!
I think you’ll really enjoy this one.
Thanks!
Shirley
Oh, WOW. This looks and sounds FANTASTIC! With red peppers, too…can’t wait to try this one out!
Hi Jen–It’s good to see you again, and thanks!
I hope you’ll love this recipe as much as we do. 
Shirley
Yummy! I did a bacon chicken recipe this week, but just spread a quick dab of honey and dijon on each boneless skinless thigh and topped with a half a strip of bacon. Had to make it again two nights later cuz the menfolk wanted more. They would think I was mom of the year if I made your recipe. It’s much fancier than my dinner on the fly and they loved that bacon chicken combo.
Oh, Wendy, you can never go wrong with those three ingredients–honey, Dijon, and bacon! I bet that was such an easy meal and so delicious. Boneless chicken thighs are a gift to those who enjoy dark meat. By the way, I love it whenever you say “menfolk.”
This recipe has a fancy look and taste, but it’s very simple to make really. I’m hosting a girlfriends’ dinner this week and I think I’ll make bacon chicken for them to try, and hopefully, enjoy.
Shirley
*doing a happy dance* I foresee Chaz licking his plate after this one! LOL
Haha on Chaz!! I haven’t heard any of his rave reviews for quite some time, so I’ll be eagerly anticipating what he has to say!
And I think you’ll really enjoy this one, too, Debi. 
Shirley
I’m pretty sure my boys would all go crazy over this! They are bacon LOVERS! Sounds perfect Shirley!
Hi Sarena–I’m so happy to make all your boys happy with this recipe!
Thanks, dear! xo,
Shirley
Dear God, woman!! This sounds AMAZING!!!!!!!!! I am not kidding. Just thinking about the bacon mixed with the magestic garlic. I am headed out to Cali again this week and I am stocking up big time on it because I already went through my last stash!! I am just loving this recipe. My boys will be thanking you very soon because of it! LOL
xo
k
Hey Kim–You are sooo funny, but I do think you all will love this one. Knowing you, you will put a Kim spin on it that makes it even better!
I love Majestic Garlic so much! It’s become my “go to” dairy-free ingredient because it adds that creaminess. I’ve also been using the Basil one a lot. I mix that with chili sauce to create a terrific pizza sauce.
I’ve been ordering from them regularly since last year. They keep for a fairly long time, and I go through them fairly quickly so it works out.
Will be awaiting the review from your boys! xo,
Shirley
Shirley – this sounds so good! Bacon is just so magical in so many dishes! That Majestic Garlic spread sounds divine! I must check it out – thanks for sharing!
Hi Ina–I agree on bacon being magical! It doesn’t even take much of it to give that special flavor.
This dish works fine without the Majestic Garlic, but I do LOVE that stuff! And since you do eat cheese, you may also want to consider clicking through to the original recipe and do a slight variation that includes some cheese.
Shirley
Oh my goodness! I am working on my adoption post for the month and I already knew one of the recipes I was going to feature but signed in to pick a second one (I have tried and loved so many of yours already!), this chicken just made it to the top of the list! I cannot wait to give it a try. xoxo
Sunny–I’m so tickled that you adopted me, and very much appreciate your lovely words!
I do think this chicken dish would fit your current eating plan perfectly AND make everyone happy. 
xo,
Shirley
Hi Shirley,
Thank you for sharing this recipe on Whole Food Fridays – it looks (and I bet it tastes) divine!! I’m already planning on featuring it next week on WFF (I can’t help it. I’m a total sucker for bacon!).
Thank you so much for the mention!
xoxo
Megan
Oh, wow, Megan!! I am so honored! I hope you’ll give this recipe a try soon. It’s so yummy. I admit that I don’t make it that often because I like to make it and have the guys go crazy all over again. LOL
I’m happy to share your new Whole Food Friday event, dear. It promises to be fantastic each week. So very many great dishes that we will feel both good about eating and good while eating.
xo,
Shirley
Oh my — I am just salivating looking at the picture and reading your recipe. Thanks Shirley!
Susan–I agree … it’s that kind of recipe! Not too much bacon, but the combo really is something.
Hope you like it if you give it a try!
Shirley
Can’t wait to try the garlic spread ~ And what a fabulous weeknight dinner!
Hi Donna–Welcome to gfe!
The Majestic Garlic Spread is totally amazing! They offer so many flavors and it comes very quickly from CA. I use it quite often and in so many ways. You’re right about this dish … it’s perfect for during the week.
I so loved your post on the garden gazpacho in a jar. I’m glad that both Ricki and Kalyn shared it on Facebook, so I didn’t miss it! Simply and beautifully brilliant!
Shirley
Oooh bacon makes EVERYTHING taste good, duo this is obviously fantastic! No wonder it’s a favorite with your family
InTolerant Chef–The only thing I haven’t liked with bacon thus far is a bacon martini, but that could be because I’ve never been a martini drinker. LOL Otherwise, bacon, bacon, bacon! (If you imagine a deep cartoonish voice, I sound like one of those dog treat commercials, don’t I?)
Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Shirley
Waw! This isuch a lovely recipe! Looks very appetizing too!
I must make this soon! Yummmmmm! xxx
Hi Sophie–Thanks, dear! I hope you will enjoy it very much!
xo,
Shirley
I’m looking up this Majestic Garlic Spread pronto – thanks so much for the recipe. I love how easy but tasty your recipes are! Have a great weekend!
Brandae–I guarantee that you will absolutely love Majestic Garlic Spread if you get some. A word to the wise, a little goes a long way. When you open a container, you think that it doesn’t hold much and will be gone in an instant, but then you’ll find that very small amounts add all the flavor and creaminess that you need. My favorite flavors to date are the Sun-Dried Tomato Jalapeno Pepper and Basil.
Thanks so much for the sweet words on my recipes, dear! I’m glad I’m living up to my blog name.
Shirley
Made this dish last night. I took 2 chicken breasts and cut them into 4 pieces, substituted kernel corn in place of the peppers, and used my own home made spaghetti sauce, using just a small amount of sauce on each piece of chicken. The bacon knocked the socks off everyone ! In my family, if we like a meal we will say, “It’s a do again”…and this is !!
Hi Linda–Nice to see you again!
And woohoo on your recipe adaptation and success! I LOVE this flavor combo you’ve come up with. Isn’t it amazing how a relatively small amount of bacon adds so much that’s fabulous to this dish? 
I can’t imagine a better review .. “it’s a do again” … thanks to you all!
Shirley
That garlic spread sounds so good! I’m sure my husband would be all over this dish
Anything with bacon will win him over! I like the addition of the red pepper!
Hi Jane–The garlic spread is amazing, especially with how a little of it can take the place of dairy. Even Son is saying, “Mom, you can make dish x dairy free by using some of this garlic spread.” And he’s right. And, yes, I’m all about red pepper this last year. It, too, does a great job of imitating cheese with its flavoring in certain applications, like my Brazilian Un-Cheese Rolls.
I hope you’ll make this dish for hubby and report back!
Thanks,
Shirley
I have made your stunning bacon chicken dish & my husband Peter & oI loved it so much!
A huge thanks to the writer!
xxx
Hi Sophie–Yippeeeee! How absolutely wonderful that you call this Bacon Chicken stunning and both love it so much!
Thank you so much for sharing, dear! Big xoxoxo across the pond!
Shirley
You had me at bacon! Don’t eat too much of it but I do love it. This sounds great.
Carol–A little bit can go a long way in its magic, huh?
It really shines in this dish. 
Thanks! xo,
Shirley
Made this tonight (w/ some modifications). It turned out so great! Both hubby and I enjoyed it a lot. We both agreed that we needed more bacon though
Thanks for sharing such a delicious recipe!
Hey Stephanie–I’m so shocked to see that I never replied to your comment here.
I’m so glad to hear that you made a version you enjoyed! That bacon problem is easily fixed. 
Shirley
this looks simply delicious!
Hi Cheryl–Thank you! It really is.
We’re enjoying leftovers now. I made a big batch. 
Shirley