Description
Million-dollar chicken offers a luxurious roasting technique that elevates simple poultry to gourmet heights. Rich herbed butter and careful preparation create an irresistible dinner centerpiece for home cooks seeking restaurant-quality results.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, thinly cut or pounded
- 1.5 cups (340 g) colby jack cheese, shredded
- 6 oz (170 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (120 ml) bacon, crispy, crumbled (about 8 slices)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) mayonnaise
- ½ cup (120 ml) green onions, chopped (about 4 onions)
Instructions
- Preparation: Calibrate oven to 350°F with center rack placement, ensuring ideal cooking environment for chicken breasts.
- Cheese Mixture: Blend cream cheese, mayonnaise, bacon bits, green onions, and half the cheddar cheese into a harmonious, creamy fusion that will enhance the chicken’s flavor profile.
- Chicken Assembly: Arrange chicken breasts in baking dish, generously coating each piece with the prepared cheese mixture, creating a uniform layer that promises rich, decadent taste.
- Cheese Topping: Lavishly sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese over the chicken, forming a golden, melty crust that will transform during baking.
- Baking Process: Roast in preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, monitoring internal temperature until chicken reaches precisely 165°F, guaranteeing succulent, perfectly cooked meat.
- Resting and Finishing: Allow chicken to rest 3-5 minutes post-baking, enabling juice redistribution and ensuring maximum tenderness, then embellish with additional crispy bacon crumbles and fresh green onion garnish.
Notes
- Prep Perfectly: Ensure cream cheese is completely softened at room temperature for smooth, lump-free mixing.
- Temperature Check: Always use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches safe 165°F internal temperature, preventing undercooking.
- Bacon Brilliance: Crisp bacon beforehand for maximum crunch and flavor intensity in the cheese topping.
- Resting Ritual: Allow chicken to rest after baking, which helps retain moisture and ensures juicier, more tender meat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 39 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg