Easy stuffed chicken thighs are filled with stuffing, wrapped in bacon, and baked until tender and juicy!

This recipe is versatile and can be made with chicken thighs and leftover stuffing or your favorite stuffing mix.

close up of Stuffed Chicken Thighs with Bacon cut in half

A Favorite Stuffed Chicken Recipe

  • This dish takes a little bit of prep but it’s simple to make and has a cozy homemade flavor.
  • Chicken thighs are extra juicy and turn out perfectly every time (you can use chicken breasts too, see notes).
  • This can be made with homemade stuffing or a box mix if you prefer. Add in your favorites from chopped  spinach to mushrooms.
  • Extra stuffing can be added to the baking dish if you’d like.

ingredients to make Stuffed Chicken Thighs with Bacon

Ingredients

CHICKEN For quick prep, use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. It’s just so easy to stuff and wrap with bacon. For a chicken breast version, see the notes below.

STUFFING Use boxed stuffing mix for simplicity. Or if there’s time, prepare homemade Sausage Stuffing or use leftover cornbread dressing. It is important to ensure that the stuffing is cooled before adding to the chicken.

BACON Bacon holds these bundles together and of course adds smoky savory flavor.

process of wrapping Stuffed Chicken Thighs with Bacon

How to Make Stuffed Chicken Thighs

It doesn’t have to be difficult to make a super delicious meal:

  1. Prepare stuffing mix & cool completely.
  2. Open each thigh on a cutting board & place some stuffing on top.
  3. Roll chicken up & wrap tightly with bacon, then season.
  4. Bake (per recipe instructions below).

Variations

To use boneless chicken breasts, butterfly the chicken breast open (so you can open it like a book) and pound to ½” thickness. Fill with the stuffing mixture and wrap in bacon (you may need extra bacon if the chicken breasts are large). Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the center reaches 165°F.

Try adding mushroom & spinach, plus goat cheese, or top with shredded mozzarella or even jalapeno jack.

close up of Stuffed Chicken Thighs with Bacon

Tips & Tricks

  • Be sure to preheat the oven so that the chicken cooks at the correct rate and temperature.
  • In a hurry? Place prepared stuffing mix in the freezer while getting the chicken and other ingredients laid out. This will cool it down in a hurry so that it’s easy to work with. Alternatively, prepare the stuffing mix the day before.
  • If it’s hard to wrap the bacon around the chicken thighs, try securing the stuffed chicken with toothpicks. This will hold it together making it easier to wrap up—without losing any stuffing.

top view of Stuffed Chicken Thighs with Bacon on a plate with stuffing

Leftovers

Chicken dishes keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, according to FDA guidelines. Cover the leftovers in an airtight container to keep them from drying out.

Cooked poultry will stay fresh for 4-6 months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then simply reheat as desired and enjoy.

Our Fave Stuffed Chicken

Did you make these Stuffed Chicken Thighs? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! 

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close up of Stuffed Chicken Thighs with Bacon cut in half
4.96 from 44 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Stuffed Chicken Thighs

Stuffed Chicken Thighs are truly impressive. Moist & flavorful on the inside with a crispy bacon shell!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 8 chicken thighs
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Ingredients  

  • 6 ounces stuffing mix or 1 ½ cups leftover homemade stuffing
  • 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs approx 8 thighs
  • 8 slices bacon
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease a 9x13 baking dish and set aside.
  • Prepare stuffing according to directions and cool completely.
  • Lay each chicken thigh on a cutting board and place stuffing in the center (approximately 2-3 tablespoons depending on the size of the chicken thighs).
  • Fold each chicken thigh closed around the stuffing and tightly wrap with bacon. Sprinkle garlic powder and paprika on top of the thighs.
  • Place any leftover stuffing on the bottom of the baking dish and place chicken thighs seam side down on top of the stuffing.
  • Bake for 35 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Notes

Additional stuffing can be added to the pan if desired.
Ensure stuffing is completely cooled before stuffing chicken.
The center of each piece of chicken should reach 165°F.
To Use Boneless Chicken Breasts
To use boneless chicken breasts, butterfly the chicken breast open (so you can open it like a book) and pound to ½" thickness.
Fill with the stuffing mixture and wrap in bacon (you may need extra bacon if the chicken breasts are large). Bake at 375°F for 35-40 minutes or until the center reaches 165°F.
4.96 from 44 votes

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1chicken thigh | Calories: 361 | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 510mg | Potassium: 275mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 136IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Chicken, Dinner, Entree, Main Course
Cuisine American
plated Stuffed Chicken Thighs with Bacon with writing
Stuffed Chicken Thighs with Bacon in the pan with writing
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close up of plated and sliced Stuffed Chicken Thighs with Bacon with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. Would like to try this recipe. Sounds great and I love thigh chicken. Question, its just my husband and I, so 8 serving is a little much. Can I freeze the rest of them for later dinners? I love having leftovers that can be froze so I don’t have as much cooking at 72.

  2. I wish I could attach a photo! I made this night before last and after I cut into one, it looked just like the photo. the thighs I used were kind of large so I used 2 pieces of bacon per thigh. The bacon turned out nice and crispy as well. I had no need to use toothpicks either to secure the thighs. I highly recommend this!5 stars

    1. Sure you can! Bacon adds fat, salt, and flavor so if leaving it out I would recommend a little bit of olive oil and extra seasoning on the outside of the chicken. If you have a spice blend you love, like a cajun seasoning that would work well too.

  3. I found this recipe yesterday and made it last night, and it was wonderful. I did add asparagus spears and and shredded white cheddar cheese, it was so good. Thank you.5 stars

    1. Hi Rosemary, we place the stuffing in the middle and wrap the chicken thigh around it but that should work!

    1. Since we stuff the chicken with prepared stuffing you definitely can. Just make sure to let it cool completely before using it.

  4. Does baking them on top of the stuffing give the bacon a rubbery texture, as it would not crisp up? I would prefer if the bottoms were crispy as well…maybe I should skip the extra stuffing?

    1. Hi Klaire, you can leave the extra stuffing out if you prefer. The bacon should crisp us nicely either way. :)

    1. Hi Kim, we haven’t tried freezing it before baking so I can’t say for sure. But I can say leftovers freeze well :)

  5. Haven’t tasted it yet, but I am sure it will be tasty. However, 35 minutes and the chicken nor the bacon is cooked enough to serve. Increasing time to insure proper temp.3 stars

    1. Yes, David, oven cooking times vary so always make sure your chicken is cooked to an internal temp of 165°F!

  6. Very easy. But I made my own stuffing the day before and put it in the fridge. Not a fan of stove top stuffing… Also found I just needed I and 1/2 slices of bacon. One for the long wrap and 1/2 a strip for around the middle. I’m thrifty. Lol. Served with extra stuffing and some roasted asparagus . Family loved it. Would serve this for company. It’s plates beautifully. It could go with any seasonal veggie or a nice spinach and artichoke salad.5 stars

    1. Mmmm, homemade stuffing! When we have the time we love making it too Ellen! Glad you enjoyed the recipe.