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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Chicken

Easy Hunter's Chicken

Nov 15, 2021 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 11 Comments

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Diet: Gluten Free
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A baking dish of hunter's chicken with a text title overlay.

Easy Hunter's Chicken (also known as Chicken New Yorker) is a delicious comforting dish made up of a chicken breast loaded with homemade BBQ sauce, bacon and cheese. A British twist on the French dish of the same name, these juicy and tender chicken breasts are a family favourite that are easy to add plenty of vegetables to.

A baking dish containing hunter's chicken next to a plate of fries and bowl of salad.

We always have chicken breasts in the fridge, but can get bored of curry or slow cooker casseroles. So this is a great way to use them, that the whole family loves.

Ready in just 30 minutes (if you already have BBQ sauce), it is full of flavour and there are loads of different options when it comes to how to serve it.

If you are looking for more ways to use BBQ sauce, then check out our Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Wings, Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken, BBQ Chicken Salad, or BBQ Chicken Pizza.

Jump to:
  • Why you will love it
  • Ingredients needed
  • Step by step
  • What is Hunter's chicken?
  • Homemade BBQ sauce
  • What to serve it with
  • Storage
  • Extra tips
  • FAQs
  • More chicken recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Why you will love it

  • Comforting - This is comfort food that the whole family will love. Chicken breasts always go down well in our house, but smother them in BBQ sauce and cheese, and you have a super comforting meal.
  • Adaptable - There are so many different vegetables that you can add to this to really bulk it out and give it a nutrient boost and we have shared our favourites below.
  • Freezes well - If you have leftovers of this, or just want to make extra, then it freezes well.
  • Quick - This is ready in just 30 minutes. Perfect for those busy night when you want something hearty that the kids will eat, ready and on the table as quickly as possible.

Ingredients needed

All the ingredients needed to make this recipe with text overlay labels.
  • Shallots and garlic - This is the base of the sauce. You could use frozen garlic to save time, and swap the shallots for frozen onion too.
  • Chicken breasts - We used boneless and skinless chicken breasts. We wouldn't recommend using chicken thighs for this.
  • BBQ sauce - We made our own homemade BBQ sauce, however you can use a really good quality store bought one instead. Try to go for something chunky, as the added texture is nice.
  • Passata - We mixed this with the BBQ sauce to add more of a sauce. You could use just BBQ sauce, but we like to do half and half so it isn't as an intense flavour and it makes it lower in sugar too.
  • Bacon - We like smoked bacon for extra flavour. You can make it lower in fat by trimming some of the extra fat off it or using turkey bacon instead. You could even swap the bacon for slices of ham if you wanted, but it wouldn't have the same flavour.
  • Cheese - We used a mature cheese for this, as it has such a strong flavour that you can get away with using less of it. However any cheese that melts well will work. Why not try mozzarella, monetary jack or Swiss instead.

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Step by step

One: Pre heat your oven to 200°C/180°C(fan)/400°F/Gas 6. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the shallots and garlic and cook on a low heat for 3-4 minutes until softened.

A baking dish with chopped onions cooking in it.

Two: Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes each side.

The chicken now browned in the dish.

Three: Add the barbecue sauce and passata and mix well.

BBQ sauce smothered over the chicken.

Four: Top with the bacon.

Bacon rashers added on top of the sauce.

Five: Add the cheese.

Grated cheese added to the top.

Six: Put in the oven for 12-15 minutes, until the bacon and chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted.

The cheese has melted and chopped herbs sprinkled over the top.

What is Hunter's chicken?

Hunter's chicken is a really simple chicken dish of a chicken breast, BBQ sauce, bacon and cheese. Total comfort food and a great way to use chicken breast if you are bored of the same old recipes. It's a classic on a pub restaurant menu, but so easy to make at home and easy to adapt.

Homemade BBQ sauce

All of the amazing flavour in this chicken dish comes from our Homemade BBQ Sauce. It's a healthier version to store bought sauce that is usually loaded with salt and sugar. Less than 10 ingredients, all of which you probably& have in your kitchen already!

We have used honey to sweeten ours, but you could use maple syrup instead. You can also make a smoky and spicy BBQ sauce by adding plenty of smoked paprika and cayenne.

Melted cheese and chopped herbs on top of chicken breasts.

What to serve it with

We served this chicken with fries with our incredible Homemade French Fry Seasoning and some ranch slaw. However there are lots of options when it comes to side dishes.

If it is carbs you are looking for, then try our Creamy Mashed Potato, Air Fryer Fries, Greek Potatoes, Oven Baked Hash Browns or Italian Parmesan Roasted Potatoes.

If it's something with crunch that you want as a side, then serve this hunters chicken with Sweetcorn Salsa and Broccoli Slaw.

Give this dish a veggie boost by serving up some Baked Carrot Fries, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes or Cheesy Baked Broccoli Bites.

Storage

Store: You can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days in an air tight container. Just make sure that it has cooled fully first.

Freeze: You can freeze this, making it a great batch cook meal. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months in a freezer container or zip lock bag.

Defrost: Defrost in the fridge overnight.

Reheat: You can reheat it in a microwavable container for 4-5 minutes, until fully heated though.

Extra tips

  • Why not make this dish even more indulgent by adding a melt in the middle cheese centre to the chicken. Once you have browned the chicken, butterfly it and add some grated cheese and then follow the rest of the recipe. When it is all cooked, and you cut in to the chicken, the melted cheese will ooze out of it.
  • Add some extra flavour to the BBQ sauce with some chopped up sun-dried tomatoes.
Hunter's chicken in a pan next to fries and salad.

FAQs

What is the difference between hunter's chicken and chicken New Yorker?

They are both pretty much the same, however Hunter's chicken tends to have a bit more sauce. Also, Chicken New Yorker can sometimes be served with breading on it.

Is Hunter's Chicken healthy?

Whilst this is pretty indulgent comfort food, there is a few ways to lighten it up. We have used our homemade BBQ sauce that is lower in salt and sugar that store bought BBQ sauce. You can also use less cheese in this dish, and make sure to use a mature cheddar as that has a stronger flavour, meaning that you can use less of it.
This dish is also a good opportunity to add some extra vegetables. When you are frying the shallots and garlic, you could add some finely chopped mushrooms, courgette and bell peppers.
Why not give a green boost to this dish by finely chopping some spinach in to the BBQ sauce mix.

Can you make hunter's chicken in the slow cooker?

Yes, this works really well in the slow cooker. Simply wrap the chicken breasts in bacon and put them at the bottom of the slow cooker and season. Cover them with the BBQ sauce mixture, put the lid on and then cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
Check the chicken is cooked through and then transfer it to an ovenproof dish, top with the rest of the BBQ sauce and some cheese and put it under the grill until the cheese has melted.

How do you know when hunter's chicken is cooked?

This dish cooks in the oven for around 15-20 minutes, but the exact cooking time will depend on your oven. It will be cooked when the juices run clear, but that is a bit hard to tell with the BBQ sauce. The best way to ensure that it is cooked through is to use a meat thermometer. Chicken is cooked when it has an internal temperature of 75°C/167°F.

More chicken recipes

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If you’ve tried this Hunter's Chicken recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

Hunter's Chicken in a baking dish.

Easy Hunter's Chicken

By: Dannii Martin
Easy Hunter's Chicken, that's ready in just 20 minutes, is a pub grub classic, but so much more delicious!
A circular logo saying GF.
Gluten Free
4.93 from 13 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, British
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Cook: 15 minutes mins
Total: 20 minutes mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 399kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of a carton of milk.
Dairy
An illustration of a cow's head.
Meat

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 600 g (21 oz) Chicken breast - (about 5oz/150g per breast)
  • 3 Shallots - finely chopped
  • 2 Garlic clove - crushed
  • 100 ml (0.5 cups) Passata
  • 80 ml (0.33 cups) Barbecue sauce
  • 4 rashers Bacon
  • 100 g (1 cups) Mature cheddar - grated

Instructions

  • Pre heat your oven to 200°C/180°C(fan)/400°F/Gas 6.
    3 Shallots, 2 Garlic clove
  • Heat 1 tablespoon Olive oil in a large saucepan and add 3 Shallots and 2 Garlic clove and cook on a low heat for 3-4 minutes until softened.
  • Add 600 g Chicken breast and cook for 5-6 minutes each side.
    600 g Chicken breast
  • Add 80 ml Barbecue sauce and 100 ml Passata and mix well.
    100 ml Passata, 80 ml Barbecue sauce
  • Top with 4 rashers Bacon.
    4 rashers Bacon
  • Add 100 g Mature cheddar over the top.
    100 g Mature cheddar
  • Put in the oven for 12-15 minutes, until the bacon and chicken is cooked through and the cheese has melted.

Recipe Tips

  • Why not make this dish even more indulgent by adding a melt in the middle cheese centre to the chicken? Once you have browned the chicken, butterfly it and add some grated cheese and then follow the rest of the recipe. When it is all cooked, and you cut in to the chicken, the melted cheese will ooze out of it.
  • Add some extra flavour to the BBQ sauce with some chopped up sun-dried tomatoes.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 399kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 721mg | Potassium: 853mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 527IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 246mg | Iron: 2mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

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Comments

  1. Adam says

    May 17, 2024 at 2:24 pm

    Not sure, in my opinion things look a little dry but haven’t tasted them what do I know.

    Reply
  2. Rosemary says

    July 27, 2021 at 2:40 pm

    Very delicious. I've recently started cooking my chicken with bacon and just love it. So comforting and delish. Can't wait to try your recipe. Cheers

    Reply
  3. Natalie says

    July 27, 2021 at 2:07 pm

    5 stars
    SO easy. Fantastic family dinner idea. I can't wait to serve this to my kids. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  4. Sharmila Kingsly says

    July 27, 2021 at 1:33 pm

    5 stars
    Such a lovely and wholesome meal .totally loving it !!

    Reply
  5. Gina says

    July 27, 2021 at 12:57 pm

    5 stars
    This is the kind of meal that everyone loves! Filling, comforting and SO easy too!

    Reply
  6. Elizabeth says

    July 26, 2021 at 7:19 pm

    5 stars
    What a fantastic dinner recipe! Really easy to make and the whole family loved it!

    Reply
  7. Julie says

    July 24, 2021 at 10:59 pm

    5 stars
    I love finding new chicken recipes like this delicious hunters chicken. My family is going to love this.

    Reply
  8. Tara says

    July 24, 2021 at 10:50 pm

    5 stars
    I love how easily this chicken comes together and that it freezes well! It looks absolutely amazing with that cheese on top.

    Reply
  9. Cathleen says

    July 24, 2021 at 9:33 pm

    5 stars
    I am always looking for new chicken recipes, and this one looks like a winner! I am definitely going to be giving this one a go soon. Thank you so much for the recipe :)

    Reply
  10. Anjali says

    July 24, 2021 at 9:13 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe looks so easy and satisfying! Can't wait to make it for my family this weekend!

    Reply
  11. Keri Bevan says

    July 24, 2021 at 8:11 pm

    5 stars
    I love this hunter's chicken! My whole family loved it. Thank you for another great recipe.

    Reply
4.93 from 13 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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