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    Home » Recipes

    Creamy Bacon Chicken

    Published: Jul 31, 2019 / Updated: Feb 28, 2022 / 437 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This creamy bacon chicken recipe is a decadent and delicious dinner that's easy enough for a weeknight and tasty enough for company. It's ready in about 30 minutes!

    creamy bacon chicken in a cast iron skillet

    I probably don't have to sell you too hard, but chicken with bacon and cream is a great combo! The chicken is pan-fried to a golden brown on the outside and when you bite into it, it melts in your mouth. And the bacon... well it makes everything even better. 😉

    When you want comfort food, this is your dish. 

    chicken with a creamy bacon sauce in a cast iron pan

    My sister (the vegetarian) actually came up with the idea for this recipe. She's like "Is it true that I can't find a creamy bacon chicken recipe on your site?" And I was like "hmmm.... there's a creamy chicken bacon gnocchi recipe on my site, but you're right". And so this was born. This recipe is straight out of the Salt & Lavender playbook... I have a lot of creamy chicken recipes. I list them at the bottom of the post if you want to take a look. 

    How to make chicken with a creamy bacon sauce

    1. Fry the bacon pieces until crispy then take them out of the pan;
    2. Cook your flour-coated chicken cutlets in the remaining bacon fat until they're golden on the outside;
    3. Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and butter to the pan and let it cook until it's noticeably reduced;
    4. Pour the cream into the pan, add the chicken and bacon back in, and continue cooking for another 5 minutes. I like to add a sprinkling of fresh parsley, but that's totally optional. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

    In order to prevent the bacon cream sauce from tasting too cloying and one-dimensional, I added a touch of lemon juice. The garlic powder added to the chicken at the beginning of the recipe also gives the sauce more depth of flavor. And browning the chicken in the bacon grease makes it extra tasty. Of course. 

    closeup of bacon chicken

    What kind of chicken to use? 

    I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts that I butterflied and then cut in half. I find that cutting the chicken this way helps it stay tender and it also cooks faster. You could try chicken thighs or bone-in chicken breasts, but you will have to adjust the cooking time as needed.

    Can I substitute the cream for something else?

    I always get this question on my cream-based recipes, and the answer really depends on your goals for the dish. I always recommend using heavy cream because the taste, richness, and texture just can't be substituted in my opinion, and it's also less likely to curdle/separate. Half-and-half or milk will make the sauce end up thinner/more watery, and you may need to make some tweaks like adding more flour or reducing the sauce for longer. Coconut milk/cream will give it a coconutty flavor, and other potential substitutes (sour cream, Greek yogurt, dairy-free options, etc.) could work for you if you've tried similar tweaks before, but the taste will definitely be different from the original recipe. 

    What to serve with creamy bacon chicken?

    This dish is quite rich, so I definitely recommend some veggies (try my Easy Roasted Green Beans) or a salad on the side. The sauce is scrumptious over potatoes (try these roasted red potatoes or mashed potatoes), rice, or pasta. 

    Other creamy chicken breast recipes you may like:

    • Creamy Chicken in White Wine Sauce   
    • Creamy Mushroom Chicken
    • Creamy Garlic Chicken
    • Creamy Honey Mustard Chicken
    • Creamy Tuscan Chicken
    • Easy Creamy Lemon Chicken
    • Easy Chicken Lazone

    chicken breasts in creamy bacon sauce in a skillet

    Will you make this chicken with a bacon cream sauce?

    Questions? Drop me a comment below.

    closeup of bacon chicken

    Creamy Bacon Chicken

    This creamy bacon chicken recipe is a decadent and delicious dinner that's easy enough for a weeknight and tasty enough for company. It's ready in about 30 minutes!
    4.9 from 132 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 506 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 6 strips bacon cut into small pieces
    • 2 large chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise
    • Flour for dredging
    • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
    • Pepper to taste
    • 1/2 cup chicken broth
    • 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 cup heavy/whipping cream

    Instructions
     

    • Cut the bacon up and add it to a skillet (I use kitchen shears to make this job quick). Fry it over medium-high heat until crispy (about 10 mins). Once the bacon is done, take it out of the pan and set it aside. Leave about 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the pan.
    • Meanwhile, prep your chicken (cut it in half lengthwise so you have 4 smaller cutlets). Sprinkle them with the garlic powder and pepper and then coat them in the flour. 
    • Add the chicken to the skillet and cook it in the remaining bacon fat over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes/side or until it's golden. If it starts to splatter a lot, reduce the heat. Once the chicken is browned, take it out of the pan and set it aside.
    • Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and butter to the pan. Let it bubble until it's reduced by half (about 3-4 minutes).
    • Stir in the cream and once it starts to bubble, add the chicken and bacon back into the pan. Cook for another 5 minutes or so until the chicken is fully cooked through and the sauce has reduced to your liking.

    Notes

    • I used my 10-1/4" Lodge cast iron skillet to make this recipe. Any skillet would work, though!
    • I suggest using fairly large boneless/skinless chicken breasts for this recipe since we're cutting them in half lengthwise. If you have smaller chicken breasts, use 4 of them and leave them intact. Chicken is safe to eat at 165F (use an instant read meat thermometer to get perfectly cooked chicken every time).
    • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 506kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 30gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 183mgSodium: 505mgPotassium: 552mgSugar: 1gVitamin A: 996IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword creamy bacon chicken
    Author Natasha Bull
    « Simple Fresh Zucchini Pasta Sauce
    Easy Beef Bowls »

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    1. Jules says

      May 15, 2022 at 4:38 PM

      5 stars
      Even the chicken haters in my family liked this one! Which means I absolutely loved it, and calling it my new comfort food.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 15, 2022 at 7:17 PM

        Well that's awesome!! 😀 Thanks for letting me know!

        Reply
    2. Vic Hensley says

      May 1, 2022 at 3:01 PM

      5 stars
      I’ve made this a few times. My family really digs it! Add some pasta and/or zuk, broc, mushrooms to make it a meal.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 1, 2022 at 3:41 PM

        Yay!! Glad it's a hit, Vic!

        Reply
    3. Chelsea says

      April 25, 2022 at 7:14 PM

      Good recipe! I used panko instead of the flour and left the sauce on the side until serving so the chicken stays crispy. Thank you for dinner!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 25, 2022 at 8:24 PM

        You're very welcome!!

        Reply
    4. Janet says

      April 12, 2022 at 2:38 PM

      5 stars
      It turned out really good. I was a bit skeptical due to the amount of cream but it was creamy and tasty. I will make this again thank you for the recipe 😊

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 12, 2022 at 2:40 PM

        I'm so glad you liked it! Appreciate your review, Janet! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Larry says

      March 24, 2022 at 6:45 AM

      Can you use chicken thighs for this!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 24, 2022 at 2:46 PM

        Sure! You may need to cook them for a little longer to ensure they're tender.

        Reply
    6. Debbie Keese says

      March 22, 2022 at 4:57 PM

      5 stars
      Easy and delicious! Thank you for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        March 22, 2022 at 5:15 PM

        You're welcome, Debbie! We're happy you enjoyed it.

        Reply
    7. Bee says

      March 21, 2022 at 9:37 AM

      5 stars
      Just lovely easy to cook and so tasty thank you.

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        March 21, 2022 at 9:52 AM

        You're welcome, Bee!! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Jessop family says

      March 20, 2022 at 4:27 PM

      5 stars
      This is my family's favorite dish we added mushrooms & we make this at least 3 times a month lol.
      Very delicious

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        March 20, 2022 at 5:04 PM

        I love that!! So glad your family likes it so much 🙂

        Reply
    9. Cassie says

      March 15, 2022 at 8:49 PM

      5 stars
      Doubled the sauce recipe and threw in a bag of baby spinach until tender! Perfect addition!

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        March 15, 2022 at 8:59 PM

        Sounds good to me! So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Cassie!

        Reply
    10. Zed says

      February 19, 2022 at 6:49 AM

      5 stars
      Absolutely Love your recipes especially this one. Beautiful combination of flavours.
      Absolutely hate your website. How many ads do you want to put on here… seriously…

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        February 19, 2022 at 11:09 AM

        Glad you're enjoying the recipes, Zed! You're supporting a small business and full-time hard work, so ads keep the completely free recipes coming for you.

        Reply
    11. Mary says

      February 4, 2022 at 12:08 PM

      Has anyone tried adding spinach to this?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 4, 2022 at 1:25 PM

        I think that would work well. Just add it in towards the end of cooking time. Perhaps "tuck" it under the chicken so it wilts easier. Enjoy!

        Reply
    12. Rachelle says

      January 12, 2022 at 10:21 AM

      I just have to say, I learned this recipe last year, now every time I say we’re having chicken for dinner, my two and 6 year olds BEG for this! So so good!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 12, 2022 at 1:19 PM

        Yay!! That's awesome!! 😀

        Reply
    13. Debbie Ary says

      January 6, 2022 at 5:49 PM

      Made this last evening with tenderized chicken breasts, delicious! Served with jasmine rice and green beans . Yum!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 6, 2022 at 7:15 PM

        Fabulous!! 🙂

        Reply
    14. Michelle says

      December 21, 2021 at 2:05 PM

      I am going to try it with Alfredo because I don’t have any heavy cream!
      I’m hoping it will be good!
      I will try it as the recipe calls for, just not tonight. 🤦🏼‍♀️

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 21, 2021 at 2:24 PM

        I think that will be good! Let me know. 🙂

        Reply
    15. Nicole says

      December 18, 2021 at 10:41 AM

      I love this recipe! I’ve made it man times! Is there a way to do it in the crockpot?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 18, 2021 at 10:46 AM

        Hi Nicole! I'm so glad to hear that. 🙂 So, I can't think of an easy way to do this in the Crockpot with similar results. You'd have to fry the bacon and sear the chicken anyway (and that dirties up a skillet), then cooking it in the Crockpot after that would just overcook the chicken, and cream sauces don't really tend to do well in there either, unfortunately.

        Reply
        • Nicole says

          December 18, 2021 at 10:50 AM

          I was thinking it would be quite complicated, but wasn’t sure! I’m making this tonight and it sparked that question! Lol thank you 😊

          Reply
          • Natasha says

            December 18, 2021 at 10:52 AM

            No worries... I wish there was a way to just throw everything in there too haha. Never hurts to ask!! 🙂

            Reply
    16. Amy says

      December 12, 2021 at 4:36 PM

      5 stars
      Definitely my go to weeknight dish. I found this recipe a few months ago and I make it a few times a month. Ive made it for my family and friends too. Huge hit!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 12, 2021 at 5:07 PM

        That's awesome!! Thanks for your review, Amy! 🙂

        Reply
      • Ashley anna says

        February 3, 2022 at 3:28 PM

        I put 1/4 cup parmesan cheese after the heavy cream and it turned lut amazing.

        Reply
        • Krissy says

          March 20, 2022 at 6:59 AM

          This was delicious! The sauce with lemon was divine. My sister and I made this for our parent's 40th wedding dinner and it was a hit. Chocolate lava cakes for dessert. Thanks for this recipe!

          Reply
          • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

            March 20, 2022 at 9:48 AM

            Oh wow that sounds delicious! Thanks so much for trying our recipe, Krissy! 🙂

            Reply
    17. Julie Jones says

      December 7, 2021 at 10:49 AM

      5 stars
      Delicious!!! Making this for the third time!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 7, 2021 at 11:44 AM

        Wonderful! 🙂

        Reply
    18. Keri Etherington says

      December 3, 2021 at 5:15 PM

      5 stars
      DELICIOUS. I will be making this again.! The whole fam loved it. Even my one and a half year old 🙂 Made with a side of uncle bens wild rice and brocoli.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 3, 2021 at 7:27 PM

        Wonderful!! 🙂

        Reply
    19. Vic H says

      November 21, 2021 at 6:13 PM

      5 stars
      Made this again tonite.
      Even the kids loved it. Served it with pappardelle noodles and roasted green beans.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 21, 2021 at 6:19 PM

        Yay!! That's great!

        Reply
    20. Melanie says

      November 18, 2021 at 8:16 AM

      4 stars
      Very delicious! I would double the sauce next time. I also bribed my chicken in buttermilk before using it in this recipe. Very good!

      Reply
      • Melanie says

        November 18, 2021 at 8:17 AM

        Brined I mean! Lol

        Reply
        • Natasha says

          November 18, 2021 at 9:28 AM

          😀

          Reply
    21. Alyson Elms says

      November 17, 2021 at 12:04 PM

      Chicken and Bacon - resounding success, delicious. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 17, 2021 at 12:40 PM

        You're very welcome!! 🙂

        Reply
    22. Betty Silver says

      October 28, 2021 at 4:01 PM

      This is an amazing recipe! Thank you for posting it. It is also easy to make it your own! Love it!!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 28, 2021 at 4:28 PM

        You're very welcome!! 🙂

        Reply
    23. Kim F says

      October 19, 2021 at 6:02 PM

      5 stars
      Made this for dinner tonight and it is delicious! Love the sauce. Will definitely make this again. Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 19, 2021 at 7:37 PM

        You're very welcome!!

        Reply
    24. xtine says

      October 18, 2021 at 5:39 PM

      5 stars
      Kid approved. My kids are really picky but they liked this chicken... and that's saying something. Thank you for a go-to recipe.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 18, 2021 at 6:09 PM

        Yay!! That's great!! 🙂

        Reply
    25. Harriet says

      October 9, 2021 at 12:44 PM

      What do you do with the lemon juice? I didn’t see where you used it. Thanks, oh gosh never mind I’m sorry I see it.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 9, 2021 at 12:47 PM

        No worries! 🙂 Hope you enjoy the recipe, Harriet!

        Reply
    26. Brenda Yelton says

      September 25, 2021 at 5:24 PM

      This recipe turned out so yummy! I will definitely be making this again soon. Thanks so much for sharing it😄

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 25, 2021 at 6:43 PM

        You're welcome, Brenda!! Happy you liked it! 😀

        Reply
    27. Jeannette Nolasco says

      September 8, 2021 at 10:51 AM

      5 stars
      I tried out a variation of your yummy recipe and it was a huge hit! I started out with directions as listed but gradually deviated. I’m pretty bad at following recipes properly (which makes me a horrible baker). When my family asks me what I’m making for dinner, I tell them, I’m not sure yet what it’s gonna become. I made the bacon, set aside, let the chicken cook and get a little crispy edges (forgot to dip in flour) with juice from a whole lemon. Then added chopped white onions and minced garlic along with a ton of heavy cream instead of broth. I also threw in elbow macaroni I had separately boiled and added some red pepper flakes. I let it all cook down and served with broccoli. Huge hit! Flavorful without being too spicy for the kids.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 8, 2021 at 12:01 PM

        Sounds good to me!! 🙂

        Reply
    28. Jennifer Standfield says

      September 7, 2021 at 2:06 AM

      I made this for dinner tonight and omg so yummy. Plates were all clean
      Quick easy and divine
      Thanks

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 7, 2021 at 9:41 AM

        Fantastic!!

        Reply
    29. Alyssa says

      August 30, 2021 at 7:42 PM

      5 stars
      This recipe was absolutely delicious! I really love that it’s a one pan dish and use up each part of every ingredient. I sautéed onion and mushrooms after I took my chicken out and before I added the broth, which made a great addition to the savory sauce. I put the chicken and sauce a top some cauliflower mashed potatoes and a side of garlic green beans. My boyfriend returned his clean plate in about 5 minutes 🤣 thank you for adding yet another staple to my weeknight recipes ❤️

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 30, 2021 at 8:20 PM

        Fantastic! 🙂 Haha I am glad your bf liked it too.

        Reply
      • Stephanie says

        March 3, 2022 at 3:33 PM

        Super delicious and easy. 1 note... do not add salt. I made the mistake of seasoning chicken with salt and pepper and sauce was too salty. Still delicious tho.

        Reply
    30. Hens says

      August 9, 2021 at 10:16 AM

      5 stars
      Delicious & so easy to make. Thank you. H

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 9, 2021 at 2:14 PM

        You're very welcome!

        Reply
    31. Tracey Bruin says

      July 31, 2021 at 4:33 PM

      5 stars
      I found this recipe easy to follow. my family loved it.
      I gave leftovers to a friend. Now she wants the recipe. 😁

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 31, 2021 at 5:11 PM

        Fantastic!! 🙂

        Reply
    32. Anne Anderson says

      July 18, 2021 at 11:10 AM

      5 stars
      I have made this a few times now the family loved it definitely a keeper, thank you.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 18, 2021 at 11:18 AM

        You're very welcome, Anne! 🙂

        Reply
    33. Kay says

      July 9, 2021 at 5:32 PM

      Very yummu. My husband loved it!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 10, 2021 at 9:05 AM

        Fantastic!! Thanks, Kay!!

        Reply
    34. Anna Nana says

      June 23, 2021 at 9:01 AM

      5 stars
      Ok, I know I posted not long ago about this recipe but really You MUST TRY THE RECIPE. This is my FAVORITE chicken recipe. It has its own UNIQUE FLAVOR. I am making it again and again. My hubby really loves this recipe. Believe me, if he says that, it is a huge complement. I can not THANK YOU ENOUGH Natasha bc this has been the best so far that I have tried of other recipes on pinterest. It is not easy for me bc I am not computer savvy. Have a wonderful day. Sorry, just can't say enough about this recipe

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 23, 2021 at 10:14 AM

        You are too kind!! 🙂 You're very welcome!

        Reply
    35. Shirley says

      June 18, 2021 at 5:13 PM

      O M G,,,,, This is one really great recipe. I will deffently be making this again.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 18, 2021 at 7:47 PM

        Excellent! Thank you.

        Reply
    36. Anna Nana says

      June 18, 2021 at 4:09 AM

      5 stars
      This recipe is AMAZING!! I love to cook and eat, so does hubby,lol. My kids are grown and out of the house so I definitely love trying new recipes. I totally agree about the cream. You can substitute the cream but it won't taste the same or have the same texture. You MUST TRY THIS RECIPE, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. Thanks for the recipe. Have a wonderful day

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 18, 2021 at 8:47 AM

        Thank you so much!! I'm so glad you gave it a try and enjoyed it, Anna. Thanks for your kind review! 🙂

        Reply
    37. Ann Sabourin says

      June 2, 2021 at 3:53 PM

      This is a crowd pleaser for sure. I’ve also made it with boneless chicken thighs and I’ve cut up chicken breasts into chunks. Think the family likes the chunks the most!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 2, 2021 at 4:30 PM

        Glad to hear they enjoy the recipe, Ann! 😀

        Reply
    38. Pam K says

      June 1, 2021 at 8:06 PM

      5 stars
      Easy to prepare and really yummy. I would serve this to any member of my family and all my friends.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 1, 2021 at 8:20 PM

        I'm thrilled you enjoyed it, Pam! 🙂

        Reply
    39. David says

      May 30, 2021 at 5:40 PM

      Made it last nite bloody beautiful got great reviews from the dinners

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 30, 2021 at 7:44 PM

        Fantastic!! 😀

        Reply
    40. Cheryl says

      May 25, 2021 at 7:36 AM

      Can you use almond flour s flour?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 25, 2021 at 7:46 AM

        Hi! You may want to read thru the comments to see if others have tried that. Regular flour helps thicken the sauce up a bit and creates a nice brown coating on the chicken. The almond flour won't help thicken the sauce, so you could probably leave it out (you may need to let the sauce reduce for longer prior to adding the chicken back to the pan). If you've had good results "browning" chicken with almond flour before, you could use it, but I haven't ever tried that myself.

        Reply
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