Description
Million Dollar Chicken is a delicious baked chicken dish topped with a creamy, cheesy mixture featuring cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, slivered almonds, and green onions. This easy-to-make meal combines tender pounded chicken breasts with a rich, savory topping, baked to perfection in just 25 minutes, making it perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds total)
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Topping
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds, lightly toasted
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced, divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and place a large baking sheet on the middle rack to heat up as the oven preheats. This ensures a hot surface to give the chicken a nice sear when baking.
- Pound the chicken: Tear off a large sheet of parchment paper and set it aside. Place one chicken breast inside a zip-top bag, remove the air and seal the bag. Using a rolling pin or meat mallet, pound the chicken evenly to about 1/2-inch thickness. Remove the chicken from the bag and place it on the parchment paper. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts. Season both sides of the pounded chicken breasts with kosher salt and black pepper.
- Make the topping: In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese and mayonnaise, stirring with a large spoon until smooth. Add the freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese, crumbled cooked bacon, toasted slivered almonds, garlic powder, and half of the sliced green onions. Stir everything together until well combined to create the topping mixture.
- Add the topping to the chicken: Carefully remove the hot baking sheet from the oven and place it on a heatproof surface. Using the parchment paper edges, transfer the pounded and seasoned chicken breasts to the hot baking sheet. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the top of each chicken breast.
- Bake the chicken: Place the baking sheet back in the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese topping is melted and bubbly and the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C). Once done, remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the remaining sliced green onions over the baked chicken for a fresh and colorful finish. Serve warm and enjoy your delicious Million Dollar Chicken.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a microwave or low oven before serving again.
Notes
- To ensure even cooking, pound the chicken breasts uniformly to 1/2-inch thickness.
- Lightly toasting the slivered almonds enhances their flavor and adds a satisfying crunch.
- Use sharp cheddar cheese for a richer, more pronounced cheesy flavor.
- If you prefer, substitute the bacon with turkey bacon for a leaner option.
- Check the internal temperature of chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F for food safety.
- Leftovers can be reheated in a microwave or oven, but avoid overheating to maintain moisture in the chicken.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with topping (about 6 oz)
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
