Cheese and Bacon Stuffed and Smothered Chicken Casserole

Name: Cheese and Bacon Stuffed and Smothered Chicken Casserole
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds chicken breasts (thin); 12 slices bacon (cooked, drained and crumbled); 1/2 can cream of mushroom soup; 1/2 cup onions (chopped, plus 1 Tablespoon); 1/4 cup water; 1/2 bell pepper (chopped); 1 Tbsp butter (melted); 1.5 cups cheddar cheese (shredded); 8 oz cream cheese (softened); 1 Tbsp italian seasoning; 1 Tbsp garlic (minced); 1 tsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp pepper; 2 tsps lemon juice

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Delicious CHEESE AND BACON STUFFED AND SMOTHERED CHICKEN CASSEROLE takes chicken casserole to the next level. We sauté fresh onion and bell peppers for a pop of flavor and stuff thin chicken breasts with a tasty combination of cheeses for the perfect chicken casserole.

A blue baking dish filled with a baked chicken dish topped with crumbled bacon and cheese. One piece of chicken is served on a blue plate beside the dish, with a fork and knife placed on the plate. A wooden surface is underneath.

Our cheese and bacon stuffed and smothered chicken casserole gives you a whole new reason to love chicken casserole. We stuff our thin chicken breasts with a combination of cream cheese and bacon, add them to a dish full of cream of mushroom and sautéed veggies and finish it off with delicious shredded cheese.

Chicken casserole is a staple in any southern household and we love to show you many different ways to have this beloved dish. Check at the bottom of this post for more great chicken casseroles and chicken dishes for more weeknight favorites.

Ingredients

This recipe looks like you spent hours in the kitchen but really is easy enough to make any night of the week. Even using thin cuts of chicken, we get a tender and cheesy dish that you will love to make over and over again!

A stuffed cabbage roll topped with melted cheese and crumbled bacon is partially eaten on a blue plate. A fork rests beside it. A blue baking dish with more cabbage rolls is visible in the background. The scene is set on a wooden surface.

Instructions

What You’ll Need

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thin
Cooked and crumbled bacon
Cream of mushroom soup
Chopped Onion
Chopped bell pepper
Butter
Your favorite shredded cheeses
Cream cheese
Lemon juice
Smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, pepper and minced garlic

See recipe card for quantities.

Preheat the oven to 375°

Top-down view of a kitchen setup with a person chopping garlic on a cutting board, a knife beside them. A pan on the stove contains diced onions and red peppers being stirred. To the right, raw chicken breasts are on a green cutting board.

Saute onion and bell pepper in butter until softened. Drain and set aside. *Note: we did not remove peppers and onions when photographing, while it is not necessary, it does work better if removed.

A person is preparing a meal at a stove. There's a frying pan with chopped onions and red peppers cooking, raw chicken breasts on a green cutting board, a bowl of cream cheese with herbs, and a container of lemon juice.

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and 1 tablespoon of reserved onion. Lay chicken out on a surface in a single layer.

Top view of a kitchen counter with a frying pan on the stove containing chopped onions and red peppers. A cutting board with raw chicken breasts is to the right. A bowl with seasonings and spices, a knife, and lemon juice are on the left.

Add Italian seasoning, garlic, smoked paprika, pepper and lemon juice to cream cheese. Mix well.

A person is mixing ingredients in a bowl on a cutting board. A frying pan with chopped onions and red bell peppers is on a stove. Nearby, three raw chicken breasts are placed on a green cutting board. Various kitchen items are also present.

Fold cooked and crumbled bacon into cream cheese mixture, reserving some for garnish for top of chicken casserole.

Top-down view of a kitchen counter with a person preparing chicken breasts on a yellow cutting board. A frying pan with diced red peppers and onions is on a stove. A blue baking dish and seasoning are nearby.

Spoon and spread about 2 Tablespoons of cream cheese mixture on each piece of chicken. Roll into a roll.

A frying pan on a stove contains cooking chicken thighs and diced vegetables. To the left is a wooden cutting board, and to the right is an empty blue baking dish. A measuring cup and cooking spray are also visible on the counter.

Place in skillet and brown on all sides over medium-high heat.

A top-down view of a kitchen stove. A pan with cooked chicken and diced vegetables is on the burner. A hand pours liquid from a glass into a bowl. A rectangular blue dish and a wooden cutting board with lemon juice and a pepper grinder are nearby.

In another bowl, mix water and 1/2 can of cream of mushroom soup.

A kitchen scene with a skillet on a stove cooking chicken pieces with onions and red peppers. A person is transferring food to a blue plate using tongs. A whisk, measuring cup, and various ingredients are on a wooden cutting board nearby.

Add in cooked onion and bell peppers. Mix in 1/2 cup of shredded cheese.

Overhead view of a kitchen stove with a wooden board, a can, cooking utensils, and ingredients. A frying pan with chicken pieces is on the stove. A blue baking dish filled with a casserole covered in shredded cheese is beside it.

Spread soup mixture in a 9×13 baking dish.

A person is using tongs to cook chicken in a pan on a stovetop. Next to the pan, there is a dish with more chicken cooking. A chopping board with a whisk, a lemon spray, and a measuring cup is nearby. A phone is on the counter.

Place browned chicken rolls in soup mixture in the casserole dish, spooning a bit of soup over the top of each.

A person preparing a casserole on a stove. The dish is topped with shredded cheese. A pack of cheese is held in one hand. A glass measuring cup and salt shakers are nearby on a wooden board. Partial view of a digital device on the side.

Top with remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese. Bake at 375° 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken reaches 165° internally.

A person is covering a dish with a cloth, containing pieces of seasoned raw chicken topped with chopped bacon in a blue rectangular baking dish. The scene is set on a wooden surface beside a stovetop.

Top casserole with reserved bacon and return to over for 3 to 5 minutes.

A baked dish in a blue ceramic pan containing chicken pieces topped with melted cheese and crumbled bacon. The dish appears creamy, suggesting it might be prepared in a rich sauce or casserole style.

Allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes or so before serving.

Why Brooke loves this recipe!

Recipes are like antiques. They are meant to be handed down from one generation to another. Each one holding a special memory or nostalgic memory. Here is why we love this one!

Some of my favorite food memories are of my sweet Momma’s chicken casseroles. Now that she has gone to her eternal home, I find great comfort in making dishes like this as well as her recipes. This allows me to honor her and pass her legacy on to my children and grandchildren. Yes, even food can do this! It is one of its greatest powers to invoke memory and wonderful experiences.

Substitutions

We like to recommend some minor adjustments to help you make this recipe all your own.

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Chicken – Turkey breast cutlets also work well in this recipe or even boneless thin pork chops!
Seasonings – you can make this recipe your own by changing up some of the seasonings and make it totally different! Adding cayenne or even red pepper flakes can make this a bit spicy too!
Cream of Mushroom – feel free to use cream of celery, potato soup or even golden mushroom here for a delicious sauce that can change the recipe and make it your own!

Equipment

🔧 I love to share recipes that are no special equipment required but here are a few things that would definitely make this recipe easier!

A blue baking dish with a partially served cheesy casserole sits next to a blue plate containing a portion of the casserole. A fork and knife rest on the plate. The dish is on a wooden surface.

Storage

This cheese and bacon stuffed and smothered chicken casserole recipe will keep in an airtight container for up to a week in the refrigerator.

This recipe can be frozen but the cheeses may break down in the freezer and get watery. It would be best to freeze in individual servings. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat in a low oven.

A stuffed chicken breast topped with crumbled bacon is served on a light blue plate. A fork rests beside the chicken, and a casserole dish is visible in the background.

⭐ LOVE THIS RECIPE? It would mean so very much to me if you would take a moment to rate this recipe and leave me a sweet comment in the recipe card below! ❤️❤️We hope you love all of the Southern and healthy recipes we share here at The Buttered Home and would love to see you back here often!

A serving of a cheesy baked dish with ground meat is placed on a blue plate beside a fork and knife. The baking dish, also containing the dish, rests on a wooden surface.

Cheese and Bacon Stuffed and Smothered Chicken Casserole

Our delicious smothered chicken recipe is great for any occasion. Baked with fresh ingredients like onions and peppers, we also stuff this chicken with cheese and bacon. A stuffed and smothered chicken delight.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Serving Size

Ingredients

For the chicken

2 pounds chicken breasts thin
12 slices bacon cooked, drained and crumbled
1/2 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup onions chopped, plus 1 Tablespoon
1/4 cup water
1/2 bell pepper chopped
1 Tbsp butter melted
1.5 cups cheddar cheese shredded

For the Stuffing

8 oz cream cheese softened
1 Tbsp italian seasoning
1 Tbsp garlic minced
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp pepper
2 tsps lemon juice

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°. In a large skillet, melt butter over low to medium heat. Saute bell pepper and onion until softened. Drain and set aside.
1/2 cup onions, 1/2 bell pepper, 1 Tbsp butter
In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, 1 tablespoon of reserved onion, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, smoked paprika, pepper and lemon juice. Mix well. Fold in crumbled bacon, reserving some for garnish on top. Set aside.
8 oz cream cheese, 1 Tbsp italian seasoning, 1 Tbsp garlic, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp pepper, 2 tsps lemon juice, 12 slices bacon
Spoon and spread about 2 tablespoons of cream cheese mixture on each chicken breast. Roll up into a roll. Brown the chicken rolls in a skillet over medium-high heat on all sides.
2 pounds chicken breasts
In a small bowl, combine 1/2 can of cream of mushroom soup with water and mix well. Add in cooked peppers and onion and 1/2 cup of shredded cheese. Pour into a 9 x 13 baking dish. Place chicken roll ups in the soup mixture in the baking dish. Spoon a bit of sauce on top of each piece of chicken. Top with remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar. Bake 20-25 minutes or until chicken reaches 165° internal temperature.
1/2 can cream of mushroom soup, 1/4 cup water, 1.5 cups cheddar cheese
Remove from oven and top with reserved crumbled bacon and cook 3 to 5 minutes more. Allow to set about 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

See How To Make It!

A close-up of a partially eaten dish on a blue plate, featuring a portion of chicken topped with melted cheese and crispy bits. There's a fork and knife resting on the plate, with a blue casserole dish visible in the background.

🍴 PRO TIP!

This is a make ahead dream! This will keep will in the refrigerator overnight. Allow it to sit at room temperature for a bit before baking.

🗹 RECIPE FAQ’S

What goes best with this cheesy stuffed and smothered chicken casserole?

We have tons of great side dishes that would go really well but there just isn’t any substitute for a good old serving of RICE. We show you how to make it easy and delicious in the instant pot too!

How can I keep my chicken from unrolling?

You can use toothpicks to keep it together but honestly, this casserole is better if they do unroll a bit. It allows for the stuffing to almost melt into the sauce. Trust me on this one, it tastes even better when you don’t have to remove toothpicks!

How can I keep the chicken from drying out?

Fortunately, this recipe is steeped in moisture locking ingredients. Your chicken, even though thin, will be moist and tender and never dry. I don’t use cream of soups a lot but they are good for this purpose.