Muenster-Bacon Stuffed Chicken Breast

This is an awesome recipe that incorporates some of my favorite foods! This recipe has it all, Muenster cheese, provolone cheese, bacon, chicken and a wonderful crispy bread coating! This dish goes nicely with some marinara sauce and some pasta!

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 698 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 2 large eggs
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 6 slices bacon
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 cup dry bread crumbs
• 3 slices provolone cheese
• 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (such as Emeril's Essence™)
• 3 slices Muenster cheese
• 3 (6 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place bacon in a large, deep, cast iron skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown, then crumble and set aside, reserving the bacon fat in the skillet.

Step 2

Meanwhile, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, Cajun seasoning, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper in a shallow dish. Whisk together the egg and hot pepper sauce in a separate bowl, and set aside.

Step 3

Cut a pocket into the side of the chicken breasts using a thin bladed knife. Stuff each breast with a slice of Muenster cheese, and 1/4 of the crumbled bacon; reserve the remaining bacon for later. Secure the chicken breast pockets with a toothpick or skewer, then dip into the egg mixture, letting excess egg drip off before pressing into the bread crumb mixture.

Step 4

Reheat the bacon fat in the cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken breasts, and cook until golden brown on one side (about 2 minutes), then turn the breasts over, and place the skillet into the preheated oven. Bake until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, and registers 165 degrees F ( 75 degrees C) on a meat thermometer, 20 to 25 minutes.

Step 5

When the chicken has cooked, top each piece with a slice of provolone cheese, and sprinkle with the remaining bacon. Return to the oven, and cook until the cheese has melted, about 1 minute more.