Recipe Collection: Bacon-Wrapped Chicken with Italian Salsa

I came up with this recipe when a friend visited. It was delicious. She said “I hate chicken, but I love this!” The juicy, marinated chicken blended perfectly with the smoky bacon, creamy cheese, fresh tomatoes and sweet basil. It was a perfect summer meal. I served it with some fresh green beans I’d briefly sauteed in the chicken pan.  This is also a wonderful grain-free meal!

In the years since, I have made this many times.  It’s truly a simple, smoky, delicious meal!  In the photos, one of the side dishes is broccoli cheese rice — also delicious.

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken with Italian Salsa

Ingredients:

Chicken

• One recipe awesome chicken marinade, replacing marjoram with basil
• 2 lbs. chicken breast, thinly sliced
• 6 – 8 slices of bacon
• 6 – 8 thin slices of Gruyere cheese

Italian Salsa

• 6 Roma tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1/4 c. white onion, chopped
• 6 fresh basil leaves, chopped
• juice of 1/2 lemon

Directions:

Step 1: First, mix up the marinade and put the chicken breasts in it and place it in the fridge.  Chicken should marinate for at least 2 hours; overnight is better.

Step 2: Then, mix all ingredients for salsa together in a medium bowl, cover and place in the fridge.

Step 3: About an hour before you want to eat, take the chicken out of the fridge.  Wrap 1 – 2 slices of bacon around each piece (depending on size).

Step 4: Fry chicken in a medium pan until the bacon is mostly cooked, about 5 – 8 minutes per side (no need to add any oil; the bacon will create the grease needed).

Step 5: Place all chicken in a baking pan, and top with Gruyere cheese.

Step 6: Place chicken in the oven at 350 for about 20 minutes to finish cooking.

To serve, top with Italian salsa or place salsa on the side.  Serves about 4 (we had 3 adults and 2 small children!).

These days (2022 update), I *at least* double it because we have 6 kids, half of whom are tweens and teens and eat a lot.  Plus I like to have leftovers for the next day’s lunch — and it’s just as good!

Print Recipe

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken with Italian Salsa

Delicious bacon-wrapped chicken with Italian salsa made from real food ingredients.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Marinating Time2 hrs

Total Time35 mins

Ingredients

Chicken

• chicken marinade
• 2 lbs. chicken breast thinly sliced
• 6-8 slices bacon
• 6-8 slices Gruyere cheese thinly sliced

Italian Salsa

• 6 Roma tomatoes chopped
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1/4 c. white onion chopped
• 6 fresh basil leaves chopped
• 1/2 lemon juiced

Instructions

• First, mix up the marinade and put the chicken breasts in it and place it in the fridge. Chicken should marinate for at least 2 hours; overnight is better.
• Then, mix all ingredients for salsa together in a medium bowl, cover and place in the fridge.
• About an hour before you want to eat, take the chicken out of the fridge. Wrap 1 – 2 slices of bacon around each piece (depending on size).
• Fry chicken in a medium pan until the bacon is mostly cooked, about 5 – 8 minutes per side (no need to add any oil; the bacon will create the grease needed).
• Place all chicken in a baking pan, and top with Gruyere cheese.
• Place chicken in the oven at 350 for about 20 minutes to finish cooking.
• To serve, top with Italian salsa or place salsa on the side.

Do you love the fresh flavor of basil and tomato with chicken as much as I do?