Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Thighs Smothered and Stuffed with Awesome

These stuffed chicken thighs wrapped in bacon are pretty much all of my favorite things layered into one extremely satisfying dish. You may have a lot of leftover bechamel sauce; about half of a box of cooked pasta will take care of this for you.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 447 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups warm milk
• 2 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs
• kitchen string
• 12 spears asparagus
• 4 extra-thick bacon slices
• 2 jalapeno peppers - stemmed, seeded, and minced

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a 9-inch square pan with parchment paper.

Step 2

Trim asparagus spears to extend 1 inch past each side of thighs.

Step 3

Place 1 cup mozzarella cheese into a bowl.

Step 4

Lay chicken thighs flat on a work surface. Place 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese on each thigh, followed by 3 asparagus spears. Roll thigh around stuffing; wrap 1 bacon slice around each thigh. Tie a 12-inch length of string around bacon, ensuring bacon ends are secured. Place stuffed thighs in the prepared pan.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, 30 to 40 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of a thigh should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Step 6

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat; add jalapeños. Cook and stir until juices have evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Add remaining butter, melt completely, about 1 minute. Stir in flour until it starts to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in warm milk, 1/3 cup at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.

Step 7

Bring milk mixture to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens, about 7 minutes. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Add remaining mozzarella cheese; gently stir until incorporated.

Step 8

Cut strings from thighs and smother with sauce.