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Cheesy Smothered Chicken has juicy, tender chicken covered in a creamy cheese sauce and then topped with more cheese, bacon and green onions! It’s a simple, delicious entrée the whole family is sure to love!
Though I have hundreds of recipes here on Dance Around the Kitchen, you know what I can almost guarantee to be a hit? Any new recipe with chocolate, bacon and/or lots of cheese!
If you’re looking for something chocolatey, Chocolate Cobbler is one of my favorites. But if you’re looking for a meal idea that’s got savory bacon and plenty of cheese, this Cheesy Smothered Chicken is exactly what you need!
Smothered Chicken Ingredients
- Chicken – You can use raw chicken tenders or full chicken breasts. See recipe notes for baking times, which will heavily depend on what size chicken pieces you use.
- Butter
- Flour
- Chicken Broth
- Milk
- Garlic Powder
- Cheese – I use shredded medium cheddar cheese, but you could also opt for mild or sharp cheddar.
- Cooked Bacon – I’d recommend either cooking your own bacon or using pre-cooked bacon. You can also opt for “bacon bits” but I much prefer the flavor and texture of real bacon.
- Green Onions – Though optional, I love the added color and pop of freshness these bring the recipe!
How to Make Cheesy Smothered Chicken
First, you’ll place the chicken in the bottom of your baking dish. I like to use the Tyson “perfect-portioned” chicken breasts. They’re a nice size and cook in just 25-30 minutes.
Next, you’ll make a sauce that’ll “smother” the chicken. To do so, you’re going to start by making a roux. Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan then add the flour.
Once you’ve cooked the flour for a minute or so, you’ll slowly add the chicken broth, whisking constantly. Then add the milk and garlic powder and bring to a boil.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the shredded cheese until completely melted.
Pour the cheese mixture over the chicken and bake for 20 minutes.
Sprinkle the remaining cheese and the bacon over the chicken and continue to bake until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165F.
What to Serve with Cheesy Smothered Chicken
If I cooked a full package of bacon, I love to make these Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts on the side. They use up a little more of that delicious bacon and are a healthy green to add on the side.
However, when it’s a busy weeknight and I’m short on time, I tend to lean on the bags of “cook in bag” microwave vegetables. With this dish, I’d go with either broccoli or peas.
I might also add a starch such as my Mile High Biscuits, Butterhorn Rolls, or simple buttered bread. All of these options are perfect for soaking up the leftover cheesy sauce from the chicken!
Other Meal Ideas
- Cheesy Chicken Cobbler
- Honey Garlic Pork Chops
- Beefaroni
- Hot Cheeto Chicken Strips
- Sheet Pan Pork Loin
- No Peek Chicken and Rice
Cheesy Smothered Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts*
- 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 tablespoons flour
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13" baking dish.
- Place the chicken in the bottom of your baking dish and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan then whisk in the flour.
- Once you've cooked the flour for 1-2 minutes, slowly add the chicken broth, whisking constantly to avoid lumps.
- Add the milk and garlic powder, whisk and bring to a boil.
- Remove from the saucepan and stir in 1 cup of the shredded cheese.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken and bake for 20 minutes.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese and the bacon over the chicken and continue to bake until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
Turned out really good. I made too much cheese sauce, so used the extra on mashed potatoes. The cheese sauce was perfect on the chicken and the extra cheese/bacon was a hit with the picky eaters.