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This easy Hunter’s Chicken recipe is a British pub classic and surprisingly easy to create your own version at home. Baked chicken breasts, wrapped in bacon, smothered in a homemade barbecue sauce and melted cheese. So good!
I love this recipe because it tastes a bit… extra, without extra effort. It’s seriously tasty and perfect with a side order of homemade chips. It goes down a storm with everyone.
In this easy Hunter’s Chicken recipe we wrap the bacon around the breast to keep it tender and to transfer that flavour.
It’s then cooked and topped with barbecue sauce and cheese, both of which melt into the meat wonderfully. Yum!
If you want to make this even easier, you can always use shop-bought BBQ sauce instead of making your own (no judgement here – we all need to do what we can to keep things simple!)
BONUS – we can make this in the oven OR air fryer too!
Why you’ll love this Hunter’s Chicken recipe
⭐️ Hearty pub grub
⭐️ Flavour-packed and easy
⭐️ Prep ahead for super quick convenience
How we came up with this Hunter’s Chicken recipe
Who remembers feeling super ✨fancy✨ ordering this meal in a pub in the 1980s?!
Sometimes inspiration with making new recipes with chicken is hard to come by. So, I wanted to create my own version of Hunter’s Chicken that had all that nostalgic flavour but was also a really easy midweek meal that would be a hit with the whole family.
During my research on this dish, I discovered that Hunter’s Chicken comes in various forms in different countries, from Chicken Chasseur in France to Chicken Cacciatore in Italy, both of which involve stew-like saucy dishes filled with herbs, vegetables and meat. Well, not this version!
The recipe we’ve come to know and love here in the UK refers to the chicken and its accompanying ingredients alone, rather than a whole meal.
It’s usually eaten as classic pub grub, but these days ready-made versions can be found in supermarkets too (but nothing beats homemade, obviously!)
Ingredients
- Chicken breasts – Boneless and skinless fillets
- Streaky bacon slices – Pancetta or Parma ham slices work really well too
- Grated cheese – I think cheddar works really well for flavour, or mozzarella for the lovely bubbling effect
- Barbecue sauce or following ingredients…
Hunter’s Chicken Sauce: - Tomato ketchup
- Honey – Runny honey
- Mustard powder
- Dark brown sugar
- Apple cider vinegar – Or white wine vinegar
How to make Hunter’s Chicken
1. Pre-heat the oven or air fryer and wrap each chicken breast with bacon. Cook (as per the recipe below).
2. Meanwhile, mix the sauce ingredients together in a small pan.
3. Cook the sauce on the hob whilst the chicken is in the oven.
4. After 20-30 minutes, remove from the oven or air fryer and drain the excess liquid. Pour the sauce over the cooked chicken, add cheese and return to the oven.
Cooking time
It should take between 20-30 minutes for your chicken breasts to be cooked, however this will vary on the thickness of the breasts.
If in doubt, check your meat thermometer to make sure it is cooked through.
(The ideal cooking temperature for chicken is 74°C, according to Thermapen – my go-to thermometer-makers. There’s also more cooking time information here).
Substitutions
- BBQ sauce – You can buy this ready-made in a bottle if you prefer
Leftovers
In the fridge Store leftovers, covered, in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave until hot through. This is not a favourite meal to reheat, just because cheese warmed twice is not the best BUT it’s fine for a leftovers lunch!
In the freezer If you want to get prepared, you could wrap the raw chicken breast in bacon and freeze like this. Then, when you’re ready to make Hunter’s Chicken, defrost the meat thoroughly beforehand, and cook as per the recipe.
You could also freeze these after they’ve been cooked. Open freeze them on a baking tray and transfer to a plastic container once they’re solid.
Defrost them thoroughly overnight and then cook for 15-20 minutes, ensuring the chicken is piping hot all the way through
Top tips
Prep ahead
Make this ahead by mixing the sauce and wrapping the chicken ready to be cooked. Keep refrigerated.
Chicken
If you have bought a pack of 3 large chicken breasts, you can slice these in half lengthways and make two stacks of chicken breast to wrap in the bacon.
More one pan chicken dinners…
Family Dinner Ideas
Bacon Wrapped Chicken {One Pan Meal}
Under 30 minutes
Pizza Topped Chicken {30 Minute Meal}
Family Dinner Ideas
Spanish Chicken and Chorizo Tray Bake {One Pan}
FAQs
I love this with homemade chips or wedges, and steamed veggies (peas or broccoli work well). But it also works well with lots of sides, like coleslaw, salad, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes.
I do have a few, such as my Pizza-Topped Chicken and my One Pan Pesto Chicken Bake. You might also like my Popcorn Chicken, my Honey Mustard Chicken and my Marry Me Chicken!
Yes! It’s the same method as the oven. Follow the instructions in the recipe card below.
Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.
Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).
Hunter’s Chicken {Easy & Delicious!}
Ingredients
- 4x Chicken breasts
- 8x Slices of streaky bacon
- 100 g Grated cheddar cheese
For the BBQ sauce:
- 5 tbsp Tomato ketchup
- 3 tbsp Honey
- 2 tsp Mustard powder
- 2 tbsp Dark brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar, Or white wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp Water
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200C and oil or line a baking tray.
- Place the chicken breasts on the tray and wrap two slices of bacon around each. Cook in the oven for 25 minutes. (You may want to flip the chicken over as it cooks so the bacon underneath can crisp.)
- While the chicken is cooking, mix the ingredients for the sauce and cook in a pan on the hob over a medium heat for about 5-10 minutes until thickened.
- After 25 minutes pour the barbecue sauce over the chicken, add the grated cheese and return to the oven for a further 5 minutes.
Air fryer method:
- Wrap two slices of bacon around each chicken breast and place them onto the air fryer tray.
- Cook in the air fryer for 20-30 minutes at 200C. (You may want to flip the chicken over as it cooks so the bacon underneath can crisp.)
- While the chicken is cooking, mix the ingredients for the sauce and cook in a pan on the hob over a medium heat for about 5-10 minutes until thickened.
- When cooked, put the chicken into an ovenproof dish and pour the barbecue sauce over, add the grated cheese and pop it under the grill for a further 5 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
It was delicious, we had with the Parmentier potatoes
My 7 year old gave it a 9/10 and that very high praise from her. Everyone loved it but the sauce was a bit runny and not sure how to thicken it?
Sounds great
I made this with chicken drumsticks – which took forever to cook (1hr 10min) at 200 degrees. The flavors where delicious and I will definitely make again but with breast!
Wow that was the best meal I have ever cooked, and just as good as any *Eat Out Ones.*
Thanks so much. I will be trying others of yours now.
Best regards.
Loved the recipe but I wasn’t able to get mustard powder for the sauce at my local supermarket. I substituted 2tsp Dijon mustard, but not sure this was enough and will add more next time.
Oh my gosh this is fabulous, I am a simple and unambiguous out of my depth kind of cook but this worked exactly as per the instructions and it just tastes amazing, thank you so much!