Cream Cheese Chicken
This Cream Cheese Chicken features tender, seasoned chicken breasts in a rich garlic cream cheese sauce with crispy bacon, sautéed peppers, and onions—perfect for pairing with pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes for a hearty meal.
6 Servings
Ingredients
- 6 –8 slices of bacon chopped
- 1½ pounds chicken breasts approximately 3 large breasts, butterflied
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 medium yellow onion finely diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced and deseeded
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1¼ cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley optional, for garnish
- Cooked pasta rice, or mashed potatoes, for serving
Instructions
Cook the Bacon
- Place a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy and browned, approximately 8 minutes. Remove the cooked bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, reserving the rendered bacon fat in the skillet.
Prepare the Chicken
- While the bacon is cooking, season both sides of the butterflied chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge each piece in flour, ensuring even coverage, then gently shake off any excess flour.
Sear the Chicken
- Place the floured chicken into the skillet with the bacon drippings. Sear each side over medium-high heat for 5–6 minutes or until golden brown and fully cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Transfer the chicken to a clean plate and set aside.
Sauté the Vegetables
- To the same skillet, add the diced onion and red bell pepper. Sauté for approximately 4 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
Prepare the Sauce
- Reduce the heat to medium. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape down the bottom of the skillet using a wooden spoon to deglaze. Stir in the Italian seasoning and paprika. Add the softened cream cheese, stirring constantly until it melts fully and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Combine Chicken and Bacon
- Return the cooked chicken breasts and reserved bacon to the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the chicken. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the chicken to heat through thoroughly.
Serve
- Serve the cream cheese chicken warm over cooked pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.
Notes
To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a certified gluten-free flour blend for dredging the chicken. Additionally, confirm that your chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and other packaged ingredients are labeled gluten-free, as additives or thickeners in commercial products may contain gluten.