Do you ever have a meal that you are still dreaming of the next day? That is how this dish was for me. Take several favorite foods – chicken, bacon, jalapenos, cheese – and coat it all with BBQ sauce as it cooks. Like jalapeño poppers taken to a new level. Game Day chicken is also delicious for a family dinner or sliced in smaller pieces for an appetizer. Enjoy one of my favorite foods in time for Super Bowl Sunday!
Game Day Chicken
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken breasts, cut into 8 thinly sliced fillets
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup smoked gouda, shredded
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 jalapenos, halved, seeds removed
- 16 bacon slices
- BBQ sauce
- Ranch dressing
Directions:
- Place chicken fillets between two layers of parchment paper. Pound chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thin.
- In small bowl, mix cheddar, gouda, cream cheese, garlic together.
- Fill jalapeno halves with cheese mixture.
- Place one jalapeno with cheese on each chicken breast. Wrap the breast around the jalapeno. Wrap two strips of bacon tightly around each chicken breast.
- Cooking:
- If cooking in oven: Preheat oven to 375 F. Place bacon-wrapped chicken breasts on baking sheet lined with foil. Cook for 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Drain out bacon grease (or place chicken on new baking sheet lined with foil). Flip chicken over. Brush with BBQ sauce. Cook for 10 minutes. Again, flip chicken over and brush with BBQ sauce. Cook for 10 more minutes, turning oven up to broil for last 2-3 minutes to crisp the bacon.
- If cooking on grill: Prepare grill to be heated around 350 F. Cook chicken over indirect heat for approximately 25-30 minutes. Turn every 5 minutes, baste with BBQ sauce with each turn. Make sure internal temperature of chicken is at least 165 F and juices run clear.
- Allow chicken to cool for 5 minutes. If serving as an appetizer, place toothpicks in chicken at 1 inch increments and cut into 1 inch slices. Serve with ranch on the side.
Live your life joyfully so,
Ashley
