Smoked Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Legend has it that the smoked bacon-wrapped chicken stuffed with cream cheese was first created by a group of cowboys on a cattle drive. One particularly resourceful cowboy, with limited ingredients at his disposal, decided to stuff a chicken breast with cream cheese before wrapping it in strips of smoked bacon to keep it moist and add flavor. The rest of the cowboys were skeptical at first, but after trying the dish, they were hooked. From that day on, the smoked bacon-wrapped chicken stuffed with cream cheese became a staple on cattle drives and eventually made its way into mainstream cuisine, where it remains a beloved dish to this day.

Directions:

Cooking Time: ~ 45 minutes or until bacon and chicken are fully cooked. The internal temperature of the chicken needs to be 165° Fahrenheit.

Servings: 4 people

Cream Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Chicken

List of Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• 12 slices of bacon

• 1 block of cream cheese

• 8 oz of shredded cheddar

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1/4 tsp. of ancho chile powder

• 1/4 tsp. of garlic powder

• 1/4 tsp. paprika

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1/4 tsp. of MSG per Lb (optional)

• 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce

Instructions:

1. Preheat your smoker to 350° F for 30 minutes

2. In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese and cheddar

3. Once the smoker is preheated, pre-cook your bacon for 15 minutes (don’t let it get crispy)

4. Take your meat and put it on the counter

5. Using a small, sharp knife, cut the chicken from the side in half until there’s about half an inch uncut

6. Once the chicken breasts are cut, fold them flat

7. Season the outside of the chicken with your garlic, ancho chile, paprika, and the optional MSG. Salt and pepper to taste

8. Flip the chicken back over and spread the cream cheese and cheddar mixture onto the chicken. Fold the halves back over

9. Wrap the chicken with your bacon (3 strips per breast) and use toothpicks as necessary. Just don’t forget to take them out after cooking

10. Place the bacon-wrapped chicken breasts on the smoker. Cook for 20 minutes ad flip

11. Cook for an additional 20 minutes or until the internal temperature hits 165° F

12. During the last 5 minutes spread the BBQ sauce evenly over the chicken

13. Enjoy!

Cooking Time: 50 - 60 minutes

Servings: 4