Doritos-Crusted Chicken with Cream Cheese and Turkey Bacon (Print-Friendly Version)
Chicken breasts hold a cheddar, cream cheese and turkey bacon filling beneath a crushed-chip coating. Keeping the pockets modestly filled makes the breading easier to secure.
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House placeholder — AdSense units launch here# Ingredients You’ll Need:
01 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
02 - 6 slices turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled
03 - 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
04 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
06 - Salt, to taste
07 - Black pepper, to taste
08 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
09 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
10 - 2 eggs, beaten
11 - 2 cups Nacho Cheese Doritos, crushed
12 - Non-stick cooking spray or a small amount of oil
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat the oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet and lightly oil it. Cook the turkey bacon according to its package, then crumble it; use cooked bacon in the filling.
02 - Mix softened cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, garlic powder and onion powder. Add pepper and only a little salt, since the chips and cheese already season the dish.
03 - Cut a pocket along the thick side of each breast without cutting through. Divide filling into four portions. Fill only what each pocket can hold and reserve any excess in a small oven-safe dish for separate thorough cooking. Secure openings with toothpicks, counting them.
04 - Set out flour, beaten eggs and crushed chips in separate shallow bowls. Dust each breast with flour, dip in egg, then press into the crumbs. Discard coating mixtures that touched raw chicken.
05 - Arrange with space between pieces and mist the tops with cooking spray. Begin checking at about 25 minutes; continue until the thick chicken and center of the filling reach 165°F. Shield a darkening coating loosely with foil if needed.
06 - Rest briefly and remove every toothpick before serving. If filling escaped, check it is thoroughly heated before serving it with the chicken.
# Extra Suggestions:
01 - Breast sizes vary. A bulging pocket is harder to seal, so leave its edges clear rather than forcing in the full portion.
02 - Crush chips into small crumbs with a few tiny flakes. Large shards fall off easily and can leave gaps in the coating.
03 - Insert the thermometer from the side into the thick meat and then check the stuffing separately. A crisp surface does not establish the center temperature.
04 - Bread shortly before baking. Prolonged contact with the moist filling and egg softens the crumbs.