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5-Ingredient Smothered Chicken Bake

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By Pillsbury Kitchens
Updated Aug 8, 2017
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This easy 5-ingredient chicken bake topped with crumbled bacon will make a quick weeknight meal.

More About This Recipe

  • So what does “smothered” mean in cooking terms, anyway? Smothered cooking refers to a specific technique that originated in Cajun and Creole cuisines in Louisiana. The basic idea is to brown meat—whether it be chicken, pork, steak, etc.—and then, as the name implies, “smother” or cover it in a homemade gravy, served over rice with any combination of sautéed vegetables. If you’ve never made a smothered bake before, then our 5-Ingredient Smothered Chicken Bake is the perfect place to start. This recipe uses a shortcut gravy made from Alfredo sauce, pesto and bacon, which eliminates a lot of fuss and stove time. It’s then baked with chicken breasts and ready to eat in less than an hour! It tastes best served over rice with some veggies. Want more super-easy chicken recipes? We have lots of those, right this way!

5-Ingredient Smothered Chicken Bake

  • Prep Time 20 min
  • Total 55 min
  • Ingredients 6
  • Servings 4
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Ingredients

  • 3 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1 cup diced red bell pepper
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 20 oz)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1/4 cup basil pesto (from 7-oz container)
  • 1 jar (15 oz) Alfredo pasta sauce

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    Heat oven to 350°F. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook bacon over medium-high heat 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until crisp. Remove bacon with slotted spoon to paper towel-lined plate, leaving drippings in skillet.
  • Step 
    2
    In same skillet, cook bell pepper in bacon drippings over medium-high heat 1 to 2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove from skillet with slotted spoon to medium bowl.
  • Step 
    3
    Sprinkle chicken breasts with pepper. In same skillet, cook chicken breasts in bacon drippings over medium-high heat 2 to 4 minutes, turning once, until brown. Place chicken breasts in ungreased 11 x 7-inch (2-quart) baking dish.
  • Step 
    4
    In medium bowl, stir bell pepper, pesto and Alfredo sauce until well blended. Pour over chicken. Cover with foil.
  • Step 
    5
    Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until mixture is bubbly and juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F). Sprinkle with chopped bacon.

Nutrition

650 Calories
48g Total Fat
41g Protein
12g Total Carbohydrate
3g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
650
Calories from Fat
440
Total Fat
48g
74%
Saturated Fat
24g
121%
Trans Fat
1 1/2g
Cholesterol
200mg
67%
Sodium
750mg
31%
Potassium
470mg
13%
Total Carbohydrate
12g
4%
Dietary Fiber
1g
5%
Sugars
3g
Protein
41g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
50%
50%
Vitamin C
40%
40%
Calcium
25%
25%
Iron
10%
10%
Exchanges:
1/2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1 Vegetable; 5 1/2 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 9 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
1
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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