Description
Whipping up these cheesy bacon chicken pinwheels guarantees a crowd-pleasing appetizer that’ll have your guests asking for seconds. Crispy bacon, melted cheese, and tender chicken rolled into a perfect bite make this recipe a total winner for any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
Cheeses:
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
Seasonings and Extras:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 375°F and coat a baking dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Sandwich each chicken breast between plastic wrap, then pound to a ½-inch thickness using a meat mallet.
- Mix 4 oz softened cream cheese with 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, 8 crumbled bacon slices, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Spread the cheese mixture evenly across each chicken breast, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Roll each chicken breast tightly, tucking in the sides to keep the filling inside.
- Secure each roll with 2-3 toothpicks to prevent unrolling during cooking.
- Heat a skillet to medium and add a drizzle of olive oil.
- Place chicken pinwheels seam-side down in the hot skillet, cooking 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Transfer the skillet directly into the 375°F oven and bake for 15-20 minutes.
- Verify the chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F using a meat thermometer.
- Remove toothpicks before serving and sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- When pounding chicken, use plastic wrap to prevent splatter and ensure an even thickness for consistent cooking.
- Work with cold cream cheese to help the filling hold its shape and make spreading easier when preparing pinwheels.
- For a lower-carb option, substitute the bacon with turkey bacon or skip it entirely for a lighter version of the dish.
- Ensure toothpicks are inserted at an angle to keep the pinwheels tightly rolled during cooking and prevent unraveling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-26 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 482 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg