Gorgonzola Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Chicken

This post has been updated from its original 2/1/14 publication with new photography, clarified recipe directions, and grammatical clarifications.

Updated: September 4, 2018

My original sentiments below haven’t changed. Things don’t get much tastier than cheese inside chicken that’s all rolled up in bacon. Except maybe if were drenched in a chocolate wine sauce, but that might be a bit too far, especially for this recipe. That’d simply be a recipe with most of my favorite things in it.

This looks like a complicated recipe, particularly since I used the fancy French word paillard but it isn’t.

What is chicken paillard?

True chicken paillard is a breast that has been pounded thin and uniform and then quickly pan cooked in a sauce. For this Gorgonzola Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Chicken, paillard simply refers to making a thick chicken breast thin.

Original February 1, 2014

Chicken….Bacon….Gorgonzola Cheese.  Need I say more?

I think Americans eat more chicken than any other meat, or so I’ve read somewhere.

I often buy ingredients for one dish, have leftover ingredients and need another application for said ingredients.  I had leftover bacon (which to some, might be a sin) and leftover gorgonzola from other recipes.

Gorgonzola Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Chicken

I wasn’t up for any “major” cooking because I had had a full, long day, but still had a reputation to live up to, so mac n’ cheese wasn’t going to do it for dinner tonight.

Chicken breasts had been thawed and after a bit of rummaging around in the fridge, I found my inspiration.

I will say, making this dish requires frequent hand-washing.  Handling raw chicken will do that.  Make sure you have everything ready to go so you don’t have to wash your hands anymore than necessary.

Maybe I’m just over concerned about this because I live in a very dry area and go though lotion by the gallons to keep moist and frequent hand-washing makes me more dry.  Have the cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic in their own bowls so you don’t contaminate anything.

How do you cook chicken wrapped in bacon?

Depending on how large the chicken breasts you’re working with are, it could take anywhere from 2 to 4 slices of bacon to fully get around. When making anything that involves wrapping it on bacon, I always err on the side of more bacon, since I won’t let any unused slices go to waste.

After the bacon is wrapped around the chicken, secure it with toothpicks, place it in a baking pan, cover, and bake!

It’s really that simple.

Serve with any of your favorite side dishes like Rice Pilaf, Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli, Maple Thyme Roasted Carrots, Loaded Quinoa and Edamame Salad, or even Barley Spinach and Mushrooms. 

Gorgonzola Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bacon, Chicken, Gluten Free, Gorgonzola Cheese, Paillard

Servings: 4

Author: Michelle De La Cerda

Paillard style chicken layered with gorgonzola cheese, rolled, and wrapped in bacon.

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Ingredients

• 4 Chicken breasts
• 3 oz Gorgonzola cheese
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic; minced/grated (about 3 cloves)
• 8-16 slices bacon; uncooked
• 1/2 tsp salt; +/- to taste
• 1/2 tsp pepper; +/- to taste
• 12 toothpicks

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. 

2. Pound chicken breasts thin, but take care to not tear by pounding too thin.

3. Sprinkle salt and pepper to the outside of the chicken and flip over.

4. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic over the inside of the thinned breast.

5. Add a portion of the cheese to the center of the breast; 1/2-3/4 oz per breast. 

6. Roll the chicken breast over, sealing the cheese inside, tucking the ends in.

7. Wrap 2-4 slices of the uncooked bacon around the rolled chicken, and if necessary, secure with toothpicks.

8. Cover and bake for 20 minutes. 

9. Remove cover and continue to bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until chicken is 165°F. 

10. Remove from oven, allow to rest for 3-4 minutes then remove the toothpicks. 

11. Serve and enjoy. 

Original Published Photo ~ I’ve still got a long way to go but I’ve come far! LOL

Thank you for sharing!