Mississippi Mud Chicken (Printable)

Succulent chicken breasts with bacon, mushrooms, and gooey cheese in a luscious cream sauce.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tsp salt
03 - ½ tsp black pepper
04 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Sauce & Toppings

06 - 6 strips bacon, chopped
07 - 1 cup cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
08 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 cup heavy cream
10 - ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
11 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
12 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
13 - ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
14 - 2 green onions, sliced
15 - ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
03 - In a large ovenproof skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear chicken breasts for 3–4 minutes per side until golden. Remove to a plate.
04 - In the same skillet, add chopped bacon. Cook until crispy; remove and set aside, reserving about 1 tbsp bacon fat in the skillet.
05 - Add mushrooms to the skillet. Sauté 3–4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
06 - Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in heavy cream and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer 2–3 minutes to thicken slightly.
07 - Return chicken to the skillet and spoon sauce over each piece. Top with cooked bacon, cheddar, and mozzarella cheese.
08 - Transfer skillet to the oven and bake uncovered for 15–18 minutes, until chicken is cooked through (internal temp 165°F) and cheese is melted and bubbling.
09 - Sprinkle with green onions and parsley before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of crispy bacon, earthy mushrooms, and melted cheese creates layers of flavor that make everyone ask for seconds
  • Its a one skillet meal that looks impressive but comes together in under an hour
  • The sauce is rich enough to feel indulgent but balanced by the savory chicken
02 -
  • Let the chicken rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking throughout
  • An ovenproof skillet is essential because transferring everything to a baking dish loses all those flavorful pan drippings
  • The sauce will thicken slightly as it bakes so do not over reduce it on the stovetop
03 -
  • Invest in an instant read thermometer because 165°F is the difference between perfectly juicy chicken and dry disappointing meat
  • Grate your own cheese from blocks instead of buying pre shredded for better melting and smoother sauce texture

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