Combine chicken and bacon & get this appetizing recipe

Cooktop Cove: Combine chicken and bacon & get this appetizing recipe

By Audrey Michels

If you’re tired of the same basic chicken breast dinner, there might be a few very simple (but effective) ways you could be jazzing it up. For instance, adding cream to the sauce. Or cooking it in bacon fat instead of the more traditional oils, for even more flavor. Or preparing it with lots of garlic and parmesan. Or… you could do all of the above. That would be awesome. Here’s how.

You can adjust the heat of this dish by adding or subtracting the crushed red pepper flakes, but a little bit of heat really helps to compliment all of the strong flavors going on. Definitely serve this with a large crust of bread, because you won’t want to let any of that sauce go to waste.

Creamy parmesan garlic chicken skillet

20 minutes

25 minutes

45 minutes

4 strips bacon

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 tablespoons butter

1 small onion, diced

5 cloves garlic, minced

½ teaspoon oregano

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

3 tablespoons flour

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

¼ cup heavy cream

1/3 cup parmesan, grated (plus more for serving)

2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped

Add the bacon to a large skillet over a medium heat, and cook until very crispy.

While it cooks, butterfly the chicken breasts, pat them dry, and season on both sides with salt and pepper.

Once crispy, remove and set aside the bacon on a paper towel-lined plate, but reserve the bacon grease in the skillet.

Add the chicken breasts to the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Transfer to a plate.

Add the butter to the skillet and, once melted, also add the onion. Sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until fragrant. Add the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and cook 1 additional minute. Add the flour and cook 1 additional minute, stirring well to ensure it evenly coats everything.

Add the stock, a little at a time, stirring well after each addition.

Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook about 5-10 minutes, or until the mixture has started to thicken.

While the mixture thickens, chop up the bacon into small pieces.

Reduce the heat to low and add the cream and parmesan and stir well. Also add the bacon back to the skillet.

Bring the mixture to a simmer and then return the chicken to the skillet and allow to gently simmer for 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat, garnish with chives, and serve immediately.