Description
Million Dollar Chicken is a delicious baked chicken recipe featuring juicy chicken breasts topped with a creamy, cheesy mixture loaded with crispy bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and crunchy almonds. This flavorful dish pairs wonderfully with rice, pasta, or vegetables, making it a perfect weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Protein and Seasoning
- 1/2 pound bacon
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 3 pounds
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Creamy Topping
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 cup sliced green onions, divided
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds, divided
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9x13x2 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Cook the bacon until crispy, chop it into pieces, and set aside.
- Prepare the Chicken: Pound the chicken breasts with a meat tenderizer until they are evenly about ½ inch thick. Season all sides of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Mix the Topping: In a bowl, combine the cooked and chopped bacon, softened cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, 2 tablespoons of sliced green onions, and 2 tablespoons of slivered almonds. Mix until well combined.
- Assemble: Place the seasoned chicken breasts into the prepared baking dish. Evenly spread the creamy bacon and cheese mixture on top of each chicken breast.
- Bake: Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of sliced green onions and 2 tablespoons of slivered almonds over the baked chicken before serving.
Notes
- To ensure even cooking, pound the chicken to uniform thickness before seasoning and baking.
- For a nut-free version, omit the slivered almonds or substitute with crushed unsalted breadcrumbs for added crunch.
- Use full-fat cream cheese and sour cream for the creamiest topping.
- Letting the chicken rest for a few minutes after baking helps the juices redistribute for better flavor.
- Serve with rice, pasta, or steamed vegetables to complete the meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 44 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
