Cheesy Maple Bacon Chicken is a baked chicken dinner that’s full of sweet, salty, spicy flavor.
This is truly one of my favorite chicken dishes and it tastes just like something you would get at TGI Fridays or Applebee’s, but it’s super easy to make at home. The chicken bakes in the oven so most of the cooking time is hands off.
A combination of soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, maple syrup, Dijon mustard and cayenne pepper perfectly flavors the chicken and makes a sauce as it bakes.
Ingredients Needed
- Bacon– do NOT use thick cut.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts– you can use boneless chicken thighs instead but they will take a little longer to cook.
- Cajun or Creole Seasoning– I like Tony Chachere’s.
- Garlic powder
- Salt and Pepper
- Soy Sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- Maple Syrup– use real maple syrup, not pancake syrup.
- Dijon mustard– creole or yellow mustard can ne substituted.
- Cayenne pepper– use more or less depending on how spicy you want it.
- Colby Jack Cheese– cheddar cheese can be used instead.
How To Make Cheesy Maple Bacon Chicken:
You’ll start by cooking the bacon in a large nonstick skillet. You want to undercook it slightly because it will cook more in the oven.
Set the bacon aside and drain off all but 2 tablespoons of bacon grease. Season the chicken with cajun seasoning, salt, pepper, and garlic powder and brown the chicken in the bacon grease. Just cook it long enough to get a good sear on each side.
Place the chicken in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Whisk together the maple-soy mixture and pour it over the chicken, reserving about 2 tablespoons. Cover with foil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
Drizzle the remaining maple-soy mixture over the chicken, top each piece with a slice of cheese and 2 slices of bacon. Bake uncovered for another 8 to 10 minutes.
Recipe Tips:
Cheddar, Provolone, or Pepper Jack cheese can be used instead of Colby Jack cheese.
Use 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper if you want just a little heat and 1/2 teapsoon if you want more substantial heat.
Try These Other Amazing Chicken Recipes:
- Sweet and Tangy Oven-Barbecued Chicken
- Melt in Your Mouth Chicken
- Baked Chicken and Rice with Bacon
- Pickle-Brined Grilled Chicken
Cheesy Maple Bacon Chicken
Ingredients
- 12 slices bacon
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/2 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 6 slices Colby Jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook bacon until about 75% done in a large nonstick skillet. It will finish cooking in the oven.Remove to paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
- Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of bacon grease.
- Season both sides of chicken with Cajun seasoning, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Brown the chicken on both sides in the bacon grease. Just cook for a couple of minutes per side. Place in a 9x13-inch greased baking dish.
- In a small bowl, stir together soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, maple syrup, mustard, and cayenne pepper.Set aside 2 tablespoons and drizzle the rest over the chicken.
- Cover and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
- Drizzle the remaining maple syrup mixture over the chicken.
- Cover each piece of chicken with a slice of cheese and top with 2 slices of bacon.
- Return to the oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
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Very tasty! I made it for a large banquet with loaded mashed potatoes and roasted green beans. YUM
Absolutely delicious! This is definitely a recipe I’ll make again and again. I spooned the liquid remaining in the casserole dish over the brown rice and the chicken.
Absolutely delicious! Definitely a recipe I’ll be making again and again.
I made this today for the first time. There is only 2 of us so I only used 1 chicken breast cut in half and pounded down. I used fresh minced garlic instead of powder. Oscar Mayer fully cooked bacon and shredded pepper jack cheese. The sauce the only thing I changed was just a tiny pinch of cayenne oh and sugarfree maple syrup. I reduced covered cook time to 20 minutes as I flattened the chicken. Then put the cheese and bacon on and put it under the broiler till bacon was crispy and cheese melted. Like 2 minutes. It is absolutely delicious. Comparable to cracker barrell!
Made this tonight and we both loved it. Used chicken thighs instead of breasts and crumbled the bacon instead of using strips. Will definitely be a regular meal in our rotation.
I made this last night and there was a fight over who got to take the leftovers for lunch today! Whenever I try recipe for the first time, I stick to the recipe and this one needs no alterations. The amounts are perfect, the flavor was amazing, and it was easy! We had green beans and and steamed sweet potatoes as sides but truly any side would be delicious with this chicken. I’m think roasted brussels sprouts next time. Thanks!
The best!!!
Cheesy maple bacon chicken has an irresistible rich flavor. I have made this dish many times according to this recipe, it’s really amazing, my kids all love it.