Looking for a cheese stuffed, wrapped appetizer? Try Cheese Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Prosciutto! For my money, one of the best ways to transform a humble piece of meat is to stuff it with something spectacular. It’s something I’ve done plenty in the past, adding a creamy twist to classic meatloaf. Or for something even more spectacular to serve on special occasions, how about Aromatic Spice Rubbed Pork Stuffed with Herbs and Garlic? Turns out that stuffing food inside of more food makes the whole thing just a bit more special! That love of stuffed meat is what brings me to this recipe for bacon wrapped chicken thighs. I’ve stuffed them with a fantastic mixture of goats cheese and mushrooms cooked with onions and herbs. Simple yet elegant, it’s one you are sure to love!
Stuffed chicken thighs
It turns out that chicken thighs are ideal for stuffing. They have a natural cavity where the bone used to be, which makes them simple to work with. Even better, they are more affordable than the skinless, boneless chicken breasts we often reach for. And because they have a higher fat content than chicken breasts, thighs stay juicy when cooked in the oven. I hope you are not thinking right now that you’d love someone else to make them for you because they look too fiddly. I promise you the most difficult part about making these little parcels of yum is wrapping bacon around chicken. The oven does all the work! Just imagine juicy chicken and creamy mushroom bites with smoky bacon as your reward at the end. If you serve it at dinner party your guests will be SO impressed!
What can I stuff chicken thighs with?
There are so many delicious things that could be used for stuffing chicken breast or chicken thighs. If you want to go the traditional route, you can stuff your chicken thighs with a mixture of breadcrumbs and herbs or add chestnuts and sausage. Tradition is great but I thought of something that would be even more fun. How about mushrooms with caramelised onions and herbs mixed with creamy, tangy goat cheese? Doesn’t that combination sound divine? If the answer is yes, scroll to the bottom to the recipe. But if those ingredients are not your thing, don’t worry, I give a list of substitutions below!
Substitutions
You can easily substitute chicken thighs with chicken breast. Just cut a 3 inch pocket into the thickest part of the chicken breast for stuffing. Because they have a lower fat content, they will be less juicy than thighs. You can replace goat cheese with cream cheese. If you are not a mushroom fan, you can easily use chopped canned artichokes or cooked spinach. Finally prosciutto slices can work well in this recipe instead of bacon.
Serving suggestions
These chicken thighs are crying out for a potato side dish, like Oven Roasted Potatoes with Mushrooms and Onions or Hasselback Potatoes. It’ll also pair perfectly with Butternut Squash Casserole. Because it is stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon, it can be a fairly rich meal which benefits from a fresh salad. A Summer Tomato Salad or Beet Sauerkraut Salad will do the job nicely!
Storage and leftovers
Any leftover stuffed chicken thighs can be kept in a fridge for up to 3-4 days. Warm the up in an oven preheated to 180C/360F for at least 15 minutes, or until the chicken is hot throughout. It should have an internal temperature of 75C/165F. Alternatively, warm up in an air fryer set to 185C/365F. It should take 5-6 minutes. I wouldn’t recommend warming these chicken thighs in a microwave. You will lose the crispiness of the bacon, which is part of what makes this recipe so great.
