This Four Cheese Hasselback Chicken Recipe looks fancy but it’s actually a really easy way to make stuffed chicken. You can stuff it with anything but my version has four different kinds of cheese, shredded zucchini, and bacon. .
So, what do I do when my husband and I each buy a 6-pound pack of chicken on the same day? Make lots of chicken recipes.
I’ve been seeing photos of Hasselback chicken on Pinterest for a while now and I decided it was time to make my own version. Bacon crumbles were the first ingredient I grabbed out of the fridge. Followed by cheese. And then I was stumped.
I normally put a veggie in stuffed chicken and chicken casseroles. But how could I stuff a veggie into those tiny cracks?
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And then I remembered my friend Marisa gave me one of her garden zucchini. Perfect. I shredded it, mixed it with the cheese and bacon, and stuffed those chicken breasts. Bacon is always a welcome ingredient in my house.
This easy recipe is low carb, keto, gluten-free, grain-free, sugar-free, and Trim Healthy Mama friendly
Ingredients
Chicken Breasts – Thicker chicken breasts give the best results with this method. Just make sure they aren’t woody. I will feel the chicken in the packaging to see if I can feel lines across it.
Zucchini – I added shredded zucchini to these to boost our veggie intake.
Cheese – Using an assortment of types of cheese gives the best flavor. I use cream cheese, provolone cheese, cheddar cheese, and muenster cheese in these.
Bacon – Cook some crispy bacon or use real bacon crumbles to save on time.
How to Make Hasselback Chicken
Step One: Cut slits in your chicken breasts with a sharp knife. Make sure not to cut all the way through the chicken. Leave the bottom ½ inch attached.
Step Two: Prepare your filling. It should be thinly sliced or finely chopped.
Step Three: Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and stuff them.
Step Four: Drizzle a little olive oil on a rimmed baking pan. Add the chicken. Bake until the chicken is fully cooked. The internal temperature should read 160 on a meat thermometer. For juicy chicken breast do not overcook it.
Hasselback Chicken Variations
Try these low-carb recipe variations for other flavors!
Italian – Stuff the boneless skinless chicken breasts with thinly sliced tomatoes (or sun-dried tomatoes), provolone cheese, and fresh basil.
Spinach Artichoke – Combine lightly sauteed fresh spinach with chopped artichokes and the cheese of your choice.
Mexican – Chop cilantro, bell peppers, and onions. Add some lime zest. Use to stuff the chicken. If you love Mexican recipes cook the onions and peppers and make fajita hasselback chicken.
Eggplant – Stuff the chicken breasts with thin slices of softened eggplant. Place on top of some marinara sauce in a baking dish. Cover with mozzarella for a delicious twist on chicken stuffed with eggplant parmesan. Add red peppers and zucchini for a ratatouille variation. Add some goat cheese on top of the chicken.
Sausage – Stuff raw ground sausage down into the slits. Bake the stuffed chicken breasts until almost done and then add fresh mozzarella on top of each chicken breast.
Cordon Bleu – Stuff the chicken with ham and swiss. Make up some of the sauce I use for my chicken cordon bleu casserole and serve that with the chicken.
Ranch – Mix up the ranch seasoning I use in my grilled ranch chicken and use them on a rub for the chicken. Stuff with bacon and cheddar cheese. Or mix the dry rub into cream cheese and use that cream cheese mixture as a filling.
Jalapeno – Make sure to try my jalapeno popper hasselback chicken next! One of our favorite easy recipes.
Common Questions
What is Hasselback Chicken?
Hasselback chicken breast has slits cut in the top and is filled with your choice of toppings. It is quicker than pounding the chicken and rolling around a filling and cooks faster and more evenly with the slits.
What type of cheese for stuffed chicken?
You can really use any type of cheese for this keto Hasselback chicken recipe. I used what I had. The Muenster and provolone were sliced for sandwiches so I just stacked the slices and cut them into cubes.
What should I serve with cheesy Hasselback chicken?
I just served this with some steamed green beans and tomatoes. It is great with keto mashed cauliflower, roasted brussels sprouts, and keto Caesar salad.
You can also double up on the zucchini and serve it with zucchini salad.
Or serve with a simple salad plus some cauliflower rice.
If you don’t need a low carb meal try serving it with Hasselback potatoes or baked sweet potatoes.
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Hasselback Chicken with Bacon & Cheese
This Four Cheese Hasselback Chicken looks fancy but it’s actually a really easy way to make stuffed chicken. You can stuff it with anything but my version has four different kinds of cheese, shredded zucchini, and bacon. Bacon is always a welcome ingredient in my house.
Ingredients
- 8 chicken breasts about 3 pounds
- 2 oz provolone cheese cut into small cubes
- 2 oz muenster cheese cut into small cubes
- 4 oz cheddar cheese cut into small cubes
- 2 oz cream cheese softened
- ½ cup bacon crumbles
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 medium zucchini shredded
- salt and pepper
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400. Sprinkle a little salt on the shredded zucchini and set aside.
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Cut slits in the chicken breasts every ¾ inch. Be careful not to cut all the way through. Sprinkle them with a little salt and pepper.
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Squeeze as much liquid out of the zucchini as possible. Combine cheeses, zucchini, bacon, and garlic in a medium bowl. Mix well.
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Stuff the stuffing down into the slits of the chicken. Bake for 35-45 minutes until the chicken is at least 160 degrees.
Nutrition
Calories: 401Carbohydrates: 1gProtein: 55gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 180mgSodium: 493mgPotassium: 943mgFiber: 0gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 490IUVitamin C: 7.2mgCalcium: 229mgIron: 1.1mg
Want more easy dinners? Try these:
Rosemary Chicken
Ground Beef Stroganoff
Chicken Pad Thai
Spinach and Feta Quiche
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Originally Published on August 27, 2016. Revised and Republished on March 7, 2024.