Million-Dollar Chicken Skillet

🥘 Ingredients

• Monterey Jack cheese
  1.5 cups
• all-purpose flour
  1 tbsp
• black pepper
  3/4 tsp
• boneless skinless chicken breasts
  1.5 lbs
• butter
  2 tbsp
• cream cheese
  4 oz
• garlic powder
  1/2 tsp
• kosher salt
  1 tsp
• mayonnaise
  1/2 cup
• onion powder
  1/2 tsp
• panko breadcrumbs
  1/2 cup
• rendered bacon fat
  2 tbsp
• scallions
  2
• sharp cheddar cheese
  1.5 cups
• sour cream
  1/4 cup
• thick-cut bacon
  4 oz

🍳 Cookware

• cast iron or oven-safe skillet
• slotted spoon
• medium bowl
• whisk

1. 1

   Arrange oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. 2

   In a cold, large cast iron or oven-safe skillet , arrange diced thick-cut bacon (about 4 slices cut into 1/4-inch pieces). Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crispy, about ⏱️ 8 to 10%minutes .

   thick-cut bacon: 4 oz
3. 3

   Using a slotted spoon , transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Carefully pour off all but rendered bacon fat from the skillet into a heatproof cup, leaving the skillet over medium heat.

   rendered bacon fat: 2 tbsp
4. 4

   Thinly slice scallions , separating white and green parts. Set green parts aside with 2 Tbsp crispy bacon for garnish.

   scallions: 2
5. 5

   In a medium bowl , mix softened cream cheese , mayonnaise , sour cream , the sliced white parts of the scallions, remaining crispy bacon, garlic powder , onion powder , and black pepper until smooth.

   cream cheese: 4 oz, mayonnaise: 1/2 cup, sour cream: 1/4 cup, garlic powder: 1/2 tsp, onion powder: 1/2 tsp, black pepper: 1/4 tsp
6. 6

   In a small bowl, toss panko breadcrumbs with melted butter .

   panko breadcrumbs: 1/2 cup, butter: 2 tbsp
7. 7

   In a third bowl, toss shredded Monterey Jack cheese and shredded sharp cheddar cheese together. Stir 1/2 cup of the mixed cheese into the cream cheese mixture, and 1/2 cup into the panko breadcrumb mixture.

   Monterey Jack cheese: 1.5 cups, sharp cheddar cheese: 1.5 cups
8. 8

   Slice boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 large breasts) horizontally in half to create 4 cutlets. Season both sides with kosher salt and black pepper .

   boneless skinless chicken breasts: 1.5 lbs, kosher salt: 1 tsp, black pepper: 1/2 tsp
9. 9

   Add seasoned chicken cutlets to the hot skillet with bacon fat and cook undisturbed until the underside is golden brown, about ⏱️ 5 minutes .
10. 10

    Flip chicken cutlets over. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the top of each cutlet. Top cream cheese with remaining 2 cups shredded cheese, then crown with the buttery panko mixture.
11. 11

    Transfer skillet to lower oven rack and bake at 400°F for ⏱️ 15 minutes .
12. 12

    Turn on oven broiler. Move skillet to upper rack and broil closely until cheese is bubbling and breadcrumbs are deeply golden brown, ⏱️ 3 to 4%minutes .
13. 13

    Transfer chicken cutlets to a warm platter. Return skillet with pan drippings to medium heat on stovetop.
14. 14

    Sprinkle all-purpose flour into pan drippings and whisk continuously with a whisk until smooth and gravy begins to thicken, about ⏱️ 1 to 2%minutes .

    all-purpose flour: 1 tbsp
15. 15

    Return chicken to skillet (or spoon pan gravy over chicken on platter). Garnish with reserved green scallions and 2 Tbsp crispy bacon.