Cheesy Baked Chicken with Bacon is a simple, oven-baked dinner with melty three-cheese topping, crispy breadcrumbs, and smoky bacon. This easy chicken recipe combines juicy baked chicken breasts with a golden crust and layers of Parmesan, Asiago, and mozzarella for irresistible comfort in under an hour.
4boneless skinless chicken breastspounded to ½-inch thickness
½cuppanko breadcrumbs
1cupItalian breadcrumbs
2largeeggsbeaten
¼cupParmigiano-Reggianoshredded
¼cupAsiago cheeseshredded
1cupmozzarella cheeseshredded
4slicesbacon (about ½ cup)
2tablespoonsolive oil
1teaspoonkosher saltor to taste
½teaspoonpepper
Italian seasoning for garnishoptional
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
In one bowl, beat the eggs. In another, combine the panko and Italian breadcrumbs. Dip each chicken breast into the egg, then coat with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing to help it adhere.
Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the breadcrumb-coated chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until golden.
Place the seared chicken on the parchment lined baking sheet and bake in the oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the chicken is nearly cooked through (around 150–155°F internally).
While it bakes, cook the bacon in the same skillet until crispy. Crumble and set aside.
Remove the chicken from the oven and top each breast with Parmigiano-Reggiano, Asiago, mozzarella, and the crumbled bacon. Tent loosely with foil and return to the oven for 5–7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) internally.
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Dust lightly with Italian seasoning (optional) and serve warm.
Video
Notes
Storage Store leftover cheesy bacon chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.Freeze Flash freeze parmesan crusted chicken without toppings for about 1-2 hours or until they are solid. Transfer the frozen chicken to a freezer-safe bag or container. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.Reheat To reheat, place the chicken in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes until heated through and crispy.Substitutions
Parmigiano-Reggiano: Use Pecorino Romano for a sharper flavor.
Cheese Blend: Purchase a pre-shredded five cheese Italian blend to save time.
Bacon: Swap with turkey bacon for a healthier alternative.
Adjustments Cooking time may need to be adjusted based on the geography of the area (high vs. low elevation), cookware (stoneware vs traditional bakeware), and outdoor temperature if grilling.Nutrition information is only an estimate