This Million Dollar Chicken Is My Go-To Weeknight Dinner

With all of the flavors of million dollar dip, this weeknight win is easy to love.

By
Sara Haas, RDN, LDN
Sara Haas
Sara Haas, RDN, LDN
Sara Haas, RDN, LDN, is a food and nutrition expert with formal culinary training. She works as a freelance writer, recipe developer, food photographer, media authority, public speaker and consultant dietitian/chef. Former culinary and nutrition instructor and National Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Spokesperson. 
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Updated November 03, 2023
Sara Haas
A million dollar chicken breast on a plate with a fork, and in the surroundings, a parchment paper lined baking tray with more

Simply Recipes / Sara Haas, RDN

It’s happened again. You bought a package of plain boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but you don’t have a plan. You could stick them in the slow cooker or oven, cross your fingers, and hope for the best. Or you could make this recipe for million dollar chicken, a juicy, tender, cheesy, and savory dish the whole family will love. I think we both know which one sounds like a better idea.

What Is Million Dollar Chicken?

Million dollar chicken is a dish inspired by Neiman Marcus Dip, a recipe created by chef Helen Corbit in the 1950s. At the time she worked at Zodiac, a restaurant inside the flagship Neiman Marcus Store in Dallas, Texas. She was known for her classy food that delivered big flavor, including Neiman Marcus Dip. It was rich and decadent, made with cream cheese, mayonnaise, bacon, cheddar cheese, and green onions. Over time it became known as million dollar dip—it was just that good. 

Million dollar dip is typically served with crackers as an appetizer, but I knew it would be delicious on chicken. After running a few experiments, I figured out the best way to create this dish at home. It’s an easy weeknight main that’s sure to go into your regular rotation.

Million dollar chicken on a parchment lined baking sheet with a bowl of sliced scallions

Simply Recipes / Sara Haas, RDN

Tips and Tricks

  • Pound the chicken. Pounding the chicken to an even thickness helps it cook quicker and at the same rate. This preserves moisture and prevents chewy, dry chicken. Some butchers will even do this task for you if you ask.
  • Preheat the baking sheet. Adding the baking sheet to the oven while it heats up expedites the cooking process. Your chicken will start cooking as soon as it hits the hot surface and this, along with pounding the chicken, helps shorten the cooking time.
  • Use thick-cut bacon. Any bacon will do, but thick-cut ensures big bacon flavor. Cook it until it’s crisp and then roughly chop for bacon flavor in every bite.
  • Toast the almonds. This is another step you might consider skipping, but don’t! Toasting the almonds brings out their flavor and adds just a warm, sweet flavor that pairs well with the salty bacon and cheeses.

Make It Ahead

Many of the components here can be prepped at least one or two days in advance. Cook the bacon and toast the almonds up to two days in advance. Assemble the million dollar dip topping and also pound the chicken the day before cooking. Refrigerate everything until ready to assemble and bake.

A million dollar chicken breast on a plate with a fork, and in the surroundings, a parchment paper lined baking tray with more, a glass of water, and a table napkin

Simply Recipes / Sara Haas, RDN

How To Serve Million Dollar Chicken

Million dollar chicken is packed with flavor and pairs well with a simply seasoned veggie or two.

Add a starch: Consider roasting some red or Yukon Gold potatoes alongside the chicken for an easy side dish. Quarter small potatoes and toss in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread the potatoes out in an even layer on a large baking sheet covered with parchment. Start them on the upper rack, while the oven preheats and they’ll be ready by the time your chicken is done cooking.

Add a vegetable: If you’re looking to keep things simple, grab a bagged salad mix to go with million dollar chicken. Choose something basic so as to not compete with the flavors of the dish. A vinaigrette dressing is a great option.

If you need a cooked vegetable, why not roast something? Since you already have the oven on, it makes sense to use it. Broccoli is a natural pairing, but cauliflower or even a blend of broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots would be delicious. Choose fresh or frozen and roast them on the upper rack while the chicken is cooking. 

Chicken Breast Dinners

Million Dollar Chicken

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds total)

  • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise

  • 1 cup freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese

  • 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

  • 1/2 cup slivered almonds, lightly toasted

  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 4 green onions, thinly sliced, divided

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

    Place a large baking sheet on the middle rack to heat up as the oven preheats.

  2. Pound the chicken:

    Tear off a large sheet of parchment and set it nearby. Place one chicken breast in a zip-top bag, squeeze out the air, and seal. Use a rolling pin or meat mallet to pound the chicken to 1/2-inch thickness. Remove the chicken and place on the parchment, then repeat the process with the remaining chicken breasts. Season with salt and pepper.

  3. Make the topping:

    Combine the cream cheese and mayonnaise in a large bowl and use a large spoon to stir until smooth. Add the cheddar cheese, bacon, almonds, garlic powder, and half of the green onions and stir to combine.

    Shredded cheese, scallions, almonds, and bacon pieces added to bowl with cream cheese and mayo mixture for million dollar chicken recipe

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas, RDN
    Bowl of million dollar dip

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas, RDN
  4. Add the topping:

    Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over each piece of chicken. Remove the hot baking sheet from the oven and set on a stable, heatproof work surface. Lift the edges of the parchment and carefully transfer the chicken to the hot baking sheet.

    Million dollar dip spread onto flattened chicken breasts on a piece of parchment paper for million dollar chicken recipe

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas, RDN
    Million dollar chicken on a piece of parchment paper

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas, RDN
  5. Bake:

    Bake until the cheese is melted and the internal temperature reaches 165°F, 10 to 15 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before garnishing with remaining green onions and serving.

    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or a low oven.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

    Baked Million dollar chicken on a piece of parchment paper

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas, RDN
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
680 Calories
48g Fat
7g Carbs
55g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 680
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 48g 61%
Saturated Fat 16g 82%
Cholesterol 184mg 61%
Sodium 753mg 33%
Total Carbohydrate 7g 2%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 55g
Vitamin C 3mg 14%
Calcium 294mg 23%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 577mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.