Updated on August 26th, 2025
If you want a dish that feels special but is still comforting, chicken Chesapeake is one to try. It’s made with seasoned chicken breasts stuffed with a creamy crab mixture, then cooked until golden and juicy. The filling has cream cheese, lemon juice, and crab meat, which give it a fresh and savory taste. Topped with bacon and melted cheddar, this is the kind of meal that’s just as good for weeknights as it is for when you want to impress.
Why this recipe works
- Great combination: The chicken and crab balance each other nicely, with the tender chicken acting as a base for the rich and flavorful seafood filling.
- Creamy filling: Mixing cream cheese, sour cream, and a little lemon juice creates a filling that is smooth and tangy while still letting the crab flavor stand out.
- Extra flavor from the cooking method: Browning the chicken in bacon grease before baking adds a smoky, savory layer of flavor that you wouldn’t get from baking alone.
- Toppings that bring it together: Bacon crumbles and melted cheddar cheese not only make the dish look appetizing but also add texture and another level of taste.
- Restaurant-style at home: Even though the dish sounds like something you would order out, the steps are simple enough to follow and give you results that feel impressive without being complicated.
Serving suggestions
- Pair with sides: Mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or rice make excellent choices for rounding out the meal and balancing the richness of the stuffed chicken.
- Add something fresh: A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette helps cut through the richness and keeps the meal from feeling too heavy.
- Serve for a special dinner: This dish works well for date night, holidays, or any time you want to serve something that feels a little more elegant than everyday chicken.
- Make it part of a seafood spread: Pair the chicken with shrimp cocktail or crab cakes if you want to stick with a seafood theme for the meal.
- Enjoy leftovers the right way: Warm the chicken gently in the oven the next day so it keeps its texture and the filling stays creamy without drying out.
Adapted from Tide & Thyme.
PrintChicken Chesapeake Recipe
Try this chicken Chesapeake recipe for a flavorful mix of chicken and crab, baked to perfection for an easy, impressive dinner.
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 5 strips thick-cut bacon (sliced)
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
- 4 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Filling-
- 3 ounces of cream cheese (softened)
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- juice of the 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 ounces lump crab meat (picked for shells)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish (with olive oil or cooking spray). Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat, turning once, until starting to crisp. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towels. Leave the bacon grease in the pan to cook the chicken after it has been stuffed.
- To make the filling- in a medium bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and salt. Gently fold the lump crab into the mixture until just combined.
- Season the chicken breasts on both sides with Old Bay seasoning. With a paring knife cut a pocket into the center of each chicken breast that’s about 2 inches long by 1 inch wide. Stuff 2-3 tablespoons of the crab mixture into the pocket of each chicken breast. Tuck the top back over the filling and secure using two toothpicks. Repeat until all of the chicken breasts are stuffed.
- Heat the pan with the reserved bacon grease to medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts to the pan, and cook for about 3 minutes on each side (until brown).
- Remove the chicken from the pan and place into the greased baking dish. Top each chicken breast with cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon. Place into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked (has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees). Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 335
- Sugar: 2.5 g
- Sodium: 1133.1 mg
- Fat: 23.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 6.8 g
- Protein: 24.7 g
- Cholesterol: 101.1 mg