Description
This Cowboy BBQ Bacon Cheddar Chicken is a hearty and flavorful dish featuring juicy, seasoned chicken breasts topped with smoky bacon, melted cheddar cheese, and tangy barbecue sauce. Finished with fresh green onions and optional red pepper flakes, it’s baked to perfection in the oven for a satisfying meal in just 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Toppings and Sauce
- 8 slices bacon
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the chicken.
- Cook Bacon: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook the bacon until crispy, about 5-7 minutes, then place it on paper towels to drain excess grease.
- Prepare Bacon: Once cooled, crumble the cooked bacon into small pieces and set aside.
- Season Chicken: Rub olive oil over both sides of each chicken breast, then evenly sprinkle garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper on both sides.
- Sear Chicken: Heat a large oven-safe skillet on medium-high heat until hot, then add the seasoned chicken breasts and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until a golden-brown crust forms.
- Prepare Toppings: While chicken cooks, chop the green onions and have the barbecue sauce ready.
- Add Sauce and Cheese: Reduce heat to medium, pour barbecue sauce evenly over the chicken breasts, then sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top.
- Add Bacon: Crumble the cooked bacon evenly over the cheese layer on the chicken.
- Bake: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through and cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove skillet from oven, sprinkle chopped green onions over the chicken, optionally add red pepper flakes for heat, and let rest a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of barbecue sauce to your preference for more or less tanginess.
- For extra spicy flavor, increase red pepper flakes or substitute with cayenne pepper.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for safety.
- If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, transfer chicken to a baking dish before placing in the oven.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cowboy chicken, BBQ bacon chicken, baked chicken, cheddar chicken, smoky chicken recipe, easy dinner, comfort food
