This creamy bacon chicken recipe is a nutritious meal that’s easy enough for a weeknight and impressive for when you have company at home. The chicken thighs are simmered in a thick, creamy sauce with bacon and parmesan – ready in 30 minutes from scratch! We used chicken thighs for this recipe, but other cuts, such as chicken breasts or tenders, would also work well. Enjoy!
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Creamy Bacon Chicken Recipe
Gourmet dinner tonight? This recipe is simple but yields impressive results. The key is to sear the chicken thighs in a hot pan to get a nice, crispy-golden sear that will contrast with the smooth, creamy sauce. We like flavorful chicken thighs for this recipe, but feel free to use chicken breasts or tenders. Also, go easy on salt – We do not add salt because chicken broth, bacon, and parmesan are enough for the whole dish.
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Why you’ll love this chicken recipe
- It’s budget-friendly: chicken thighs are a pretty inexpensive cut.
- It’s quick to make: 30 minutes from start to finish!
- Serve with any side you like: pasta, rice, roasted veggies, mashed vegetables…
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Key Ingredients for the Creamy Chicken Recipe
The whole dish is impressive, but the ingredients list is quite reasonable ;) Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients:
- Protein: Bacon, Chicken thighs
- Dairy: Butter, Heavy cream, Parmesan
- Liquids: Chicken broth, Lemon juice
- Herbs & Spices: Garlic powder, Black pepper, Flour for the roux
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
How to make the creamy chicken
- Cook the bacon & prep the chicken – Fry bacon until crispy, remove, and reserve about two tablespoons of bacon fat. Season chicken thighs with garlic powder and pepper, then dredge in flour.
- Cook the chicken & make the sauce – Sear chicken in the bacon fat until golden and cooked through. Deglaze the pan with chicken broth and lemon juice, then add butter and reduce slightly.
- Finish & serve – Stir in cream and Parmesan, then return bacon and chicken to the pan. Simmer briefly, then serve warm with the creamy sauce.
Check the detailed instructions in the recipe card below!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Tips for the chicken recipe
- A little kick of spice never hurts. If you like, add a pinch of Cayenne or a drizzle of Sriracha to the sauce.
- Smoked bacon also works great with the chicken and cream.
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Sides to serve with the creamy chicken thighs
This chicken thigh recipe has lots of possibilities for side dishes:
- Steamed/roasted veggies are a low-carb favorite ( zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice, asparagus, broccoli, etc…)
- Mashed potatoes or a mix of mashed parsnips and butternut squash.
- White or brown rice
- Pasta
- Quinoa
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
How to keep chicken leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to two days. Reheat the chicken gently in the microwave with a few drops of water to loosen the sauce.
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
More chicken thighs recipes you might like
- 30 Easy Dinner Ideas With Chicken Thighs
- Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs
- Crock Pot Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs
- CrockPot Tuscan Garlic Chicken Thighs With Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Creamy Bacon Chicken
by eatwell101
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 12 min
Cook Time: 20 min
This creamy chicken thighs recipe with bacon makes a quick, easy, yet utterly delicious dinner!
Ingredients
- 4 medium boneless chicken thighs
- 8 oz bacon
- 3 tablespoons flour, for dredging
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan
Instructions
- Fry the bacon over medium-high heat in a large skillet until crispy - about 6 minutes.
- Once the bacon is done, remove it from the skillet and transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess fat. Leave about two tablespoons of the bacon fat in the skillet.
- Meanwhile, prep your chicken thighs. Sprinkle them with the garlic powder and pepper, then coat them in the flour.
- Add the dredged chicken thighs to the skillet and cook in the remaining bacon fat over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Set cooked chicken thighs aside.
- Deglaze the pan with chicken broth and lemon juice. Then add the butter and stir well. Let the sauce bubble until it's reduced by half (about 2-3 minutes).
- Stir in the cream and parmesan, and once it starts to bubble, add the bacon and chicken thighs back into the pan. Reheat for another 2 minutes.
- Serve the creamy bacon chicken immediately. Enjoy!
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