Pioneer Woman Ranch-Style Chicken

Boomette's Note:

From the blog of The Pioneer Woman. It's yummy. I let the chicken in the marinade overnight.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 2 hrs
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1/2 cup Dijon mustard (I used grainy mustard)
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 lemon, juice of
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• crushed red pepper flakes (optional To Taste)
• 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 lb thick cut bacon
• bacon grease
• sharp cheddar cheese (to Taste)
• canola oil

Directions:

1. To begin, make the marinade. In a large bowl mix together 1/2 cup Dijon or country/grainy mustard with 1/2 cup honey, juice of 1/2 lemon, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and whisk until smooth. Sprinkle in some crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne if you like things a little spicy. Set aside.
2. Next, rinse the chicken breasts, place between two sheets of waxed paper and pound to around 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick with a mallet. Next, add the chicken to the bowl with the marinade, cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 1 to 3 hours.
3. While the chicken marinates, fry up some bacon. When finished cooking, reserve 1/4 cup of the bacon grease and clean out the skillet.
4. When the chicken is done marinating, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Remove the chicken from the fridge and pour off excess marinade. Heat half of the reserved bacon grease with an equal quantity of Canola Oil in the clean skillet over medium-high heat. When the grease is nice and hot add two or three pieces of chicken to it. Cook until brownish/blackish, about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes per side. Remove chicken to a large baking sheet. If cooking many pieces of chicken, repeat skillet process and remove finished chicken to baking sheet. Place chicken in preheated oven and cook for about 10 minutes. Remove from over.
5. Lay a few pieces of bacon over each chicken breast. Sprinkle shredded sharp cheddar cheese over the top of the chicken as generously as you like. Return pan to oven for an additional five minutes until cheese is melted and bacon is sizzling. Serve immediately.

Reviews

[megs_]

Pretty yummy stuff! My husband LOVED it, and my son & I thought it was pretty good. :) Can't go wrong with Pioneer Woman. I used Bacon in the Oven to cook the bacon.

[PSU Lioness]

I thought this was just okay. The marinade was really good (I let it soak for 3 1/2 hours) but after I fried it in the bacon grease, it lost a lot of that flavor. But anything topped with bacon and cheese is good. It was worth a shot but I think it's more calories than it's worth eating. Sorry!

[AZPARZYCH]

This was so good!! I used b/s chicken thighs and a grainy mustard, and left out the red pepper flakes. I let it marinade for 3 1/2 hours and the flavor was perfect! Will have to try grilling this when it warms up, loved the marinade! Made for AUS/NZ Recipe Swap #47.