Easy Pineapple BBQ Chicken Bake with Bacon & Cheese
Make this easy and delicious Pineapple BBQ Chicken Bake! Features tender chicken breasts topped with BBQ sauce, pineapple, bacon, red onion, and melted mozzarella.
Ingredients
- ▢ 4 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless (thinner ones preferred)
- ▢ Salt and black pepper, to taste
- ▢ 1 cup BBQ sauce (low sugar recommended, or your favorite)
- ▢ 1 cup pineapple, diced (fresh or canned)
- ▢ 6 strips bacon, cooked and diced
- ▢ ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
- ▢ 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Toppings:
- ▢ Pineapple, diced (optional extra for garnish)
- ▢ Green onion, diced
Instructions
1. Prepare Oven and Baking Dish:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish (or similar size that fits the chicken) with cooking spray or lightly grease with oil.
2. Prepare and Season Chicken:
- Place the chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish, ensuring they are in a single layer. If using thicker breasts, consider pounding them to an even 1/2 to 3/4 inch thickness first.
- Sprinkle both sides of the chicken breasts generously with salt and black pepper.
3. Layer the Toppings:
- Spread the BBQ sauce evenly over the top of the chicken breasts using a spoon or brush.
- Top the BBQ sauce evenly with the diced pineapple chunks.
- Sprinkle the cooked, diced bacon over the pineapple.
- Scatter the thinly sliced red onion over the bacon.
- Finally, top everything evenly with the shredded mozzarella cheese.
4. Bake:
- Place the baking dish in the preheated oven.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C) and the juices run clear. The cheese should be melted and bubbly.
5. Broil (Optional):
- For extra golden, crispy cheese, carefully switch the oven setting to Broil (High) after the chicken is cooked.
- Broil for 3-4 minutes, watching constantly to prevent burning, until the cheese is bubbly and browned to your liking.
6. Garnish and Serve:
- Remove the dish from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes.
- Top with additional diced pineapple and diced green onions before serving for freshness and color.
- Serve warm.