Goat Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Chicken is an easy baked chicken dinner made with juicy chicken breasts, creamy goat cheese, crispy bacon, and fresh basil, then topped with an easy balsamic glaze. It looks impressive but takes just 15 minutes to prep.
If you love easy chicken dinners with creamy cheese and bold flavor, be sure to try my Feta Baked Chicken with Spinach. Tender chicken breasts topped with feta cheese, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes make it another delicious weeknight dinner option.
Quick Look: Goat Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Chicken
- ⏲️Ready in: 40 minutes total
- 👪Serves: 4
- 🥘Key Ingredients: Chicken breasts, goat cheese, bacon, basil leaves, balsamic glaze
- 🍳Method: Oven and Stovetop
- ⭐Difficulty: Easy
- 👩🍳Flavor Profile: Crispy bacon and creamy goat cheese baked inside a boneless skinless chicken breast.
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If you enjoy juicy chicken dinners packed with flavor, my Cajun Butter Chicken Breasts are always a hit. Tender chicken breasts marinated in a rich, buttery Cajun sauce with potatoes for a complete, filling meal.
Why This Recipe Works
Stuffing chicken breasts might sound intimidating, but it's actually very easy. Crispy bacon, creamy goat cheese, and fresh basil bake inside juicy chicken breasts, then everything gets topped with a rich balsamic glaze for incredible flavor.
This baked chicken dinner feels elegant enough for guests but is simple enough for any night of the week.
Looking for more chicken recipes? Take a look at my Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Thighs. These thighs are so juicy and are flavored with a little dill pickle juice!
Why You'll Love It
- Easy enough for busy weeknights
- Creamy goat cheese and crispy bacon in every bite
- The balsamic glaze adds incredible flavor
- Looks fancy but is surprisingly simple to make
- Great for date nights or casual entertaining
Ingredient Photo with Notes
These Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts only require 6 ingredients!
boneless, skinless chicken breasts - we'll pound 4 chicken breasts flat, then "stuff" them. Because the size of chicken breasts varies, you may be able to use 2 large/thick chicken breasts and cut them in half lengthwise (butterfly) to get four thin breasts.
bacon - for easy, evenly cooked bacon, bake it in the oven. You could also use the pre-cooked bacon.
balsamic vinegar - reducing the vinegar for the glaze really packs in the flavor!
goat cheese - goat cheese is super creamy and tangy! But it can be pricy, so you can opt for cream cheese instead.
fresh basil leaves - if you're not a fan of basil, you can sub baby spinach.
olive oil or coconut oil - for browning the stuffed chicken breast.
Easy Ingredient Additions
- Sun-dried tomatoes - Add a few sliced sun-dried tomatoes to each chicken breast for a slightly sweet, tangy flavor that pairs perfectly with the goat cheese.
- Fresh herbs - Try fresh thyme or rosemary for even more savory flavor.
- Mozzarella cheese - Add a little shredded mozzarella for a cheesy filling.
What to Serve with It
This creamy stuffed chicken pairs well with all kinds of side dishes. For something fresh and crunchy, try my Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad. Creamy Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes are perfect for soaking up the balsamic glaze, and my Old Fashioned Carrot Casserole makes a cozy Southern-style side dish for this easy chicken dinner.
How to Make Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken
Photo 1: Pound the chicken to ½-inch thickness (or butterfly). Lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add goat cheese, bacon, and chopped basil leaves on one side of each chicken breast.
Photo 2: Fold the other half of the chicken breast over, then secure with a toothpick if desired.
Photo 3: In a large oven-safe skillet add the olive oil and sear each side of the chicken breast. Place the skillet in the oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes.
Photo 4: Make the balsamic glaze. To serve, place the chicken on a plate and drizzle glaze on top.
Another flavorful chicken dinner we love is this Lemon Rosemary Garlic Chicken. Tucking the lemon slices and seasonings under the skin gives the chicken so much more flavor!
Anne's Recipe Tips
Chicken breast sizes can vary quite a bit. If your chicken breasts are very large and thick, you can slice them in half lengthwise to create thinner pieces that are easier to stuff and fold over. Smaller chicken breasts can simply be pounded thinner with a meat mallet.
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I prefer to use BPA-free glass containers with locking lids. Check out this 18-piece set of glass food storage containers with locking lids from Bayco, available now on Amazon.
Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken FAQs
Lay the chicken breast on a flat surface. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut through the thickest part of the chicken without cutting all the way through. You should be able to open it like a book to create one larger, thinner piece of chicken. If you're a visual learner, like me, I found a great tutorial video from Taste of Home How to Butterfly a Chicken Breast.
All kinds! You can serve this with my Roasted Brussels Sprouts or my Broccoli Slaw. Both are fantastic; one requires oven time and the other requires no cooking whatsoever. Or choose a simple green salad or spinach salad.
Oh yes, this is such a common question because there's a fine line between juicy chicken and dry chicken! One technique holds true though: Searing chicken (or any meat) at a high temperature for just a few minutes actually helps to lock in the juices. After searing, just follow the rest of the recipe steps.
More Stuffed Recipes to Try
If you enjoy stuffed recipes, be sure to try my Stuffed Potatoes with Shrimp, Stuffed Cheeseburgers, Stuffed French Bread, Stuffed Spaghetti Squash, and Lasagna Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms.
Easy Appetizers for Entertaining
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If you tried this recipe, please let me know by leaving a comment! I'd love to hear from you.
Recipe
Goat Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Chicken
Equipment
- Sharp kitchen knife
- measuring cup
- measuring spoon
- oven-safe skillet
- small sauce pan
Ingredients
- 4 large, boneless skinless chicken breasts
- salt and pepper (a light sprinkling of each)
- 6 strips of bacon, cooked & crumbled
- 4 ounces goat cheese, divided into 4 equal portions
- 6 fresh basil leaves, chopped, divided into 4 equal portions
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, or coconut oil
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F. Pound the chicken to ½-inch thickness. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
- Add ¼ of the bacon, ¼ of the goat cheese, and ¼ of the chopped basil leaves on one side of the chicken breast. Fold the other half of the chicken breast over, then secure with a toothpick if desired. Repeat with the remaining breasts.
- In a large oven-safe skillet add the olive oil. Heat to medium-high, then sear each side of the chicken breast. Place the skillet in the oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165F. Remove the skillet from the oven, and set aside to cool.
- For the glaze, place the balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer the vinegar, stirring occasionally, until it's reduced by ⅓ and starts to form a syrup-like consistency.
- To serve, place the chicken on a plate and drizzle glaze on top. Serve with your choice of side dish -- a green salad or steamed broccoli goes well with this, and you can drizzle some of the glaze over the side too.
Notes
- Chicken breast sizes can vary quite a bit. If your chicken breasts are very large and thick, you can slice them in half lengthwise to create thinner pieces that are easier to stuff and fold over. Smaller chicken breasts can simply be pounded thinner with a meat mallet.
- Don't overstuff the chicken breasts or the filling may leak out while baking.
- Toothpicks work great for keeping the chicken closed while it bakes. Just remember to remove them before serving.
- Cook the bacon until crispy before stuffing the chicken so it doesn't turn chewy inside the filling.
- Goat cheese becomes much milder and creamier once baked, so even people who normally aren't sure about goat cheese often enjoy this recipe.
- Use an instant-read thermometer and cook the chicken to 165°F for juicy, perfectly cooked chicken breasts.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2026.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
MyKitchenSerenity says
Thanks for featuring my recipe on this week’s Meal Plan Monday!
Jane M. says
P.S. I've never had goat cheese before. You're broadening my horizons and I welcome it.
Jane M. says
Great recipe but what is the oven temperature for the 25-30 minutes baking portion?
MyKitchenSerenity says
Hi Jane! The oven should be preheated to 375F. I have fixed the recipe. Thank you for asking! I hope you enjoy this recipe.
Jane M. says
Thank you for your prompt response. Much to my adult son's displeasure, I cook too much chicken :D. This should make him happy. I know I will be (not just baked chicken again!). Will be going to the supermarket soon to get the ingredients.
MyKitchenSerenity says
LOL. Let me know what he thinks! Goat cheese is very creamy...I love it. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do! Let me know...