Low FODMAP BBQ Bacon Chicken

One of my all-time most requested birthday meals is BBQ Bacon Chicken. I love the flavor combination of the chicken breasts, bacon, and BBQ sauce. Low FODMAP BBQ Bacon Chicken is a flavorful way to enjoy chicken without garlic, onion, or high fructose corn syrup.

BBQ bacon chicken has thinly sliced chicken breasts covered in homemade BBQ sauce, topped with cooked bacon, more BBQ sauce, and a slice of melted cheddar cheese. This recipe can be grilled or baked and is delicious either way.

Ingredients

Thinly Sliced Chicken Breasts - Chicken cut thinly will cook more evenly and become a perfect platform for the bacon strips and cheese.
Thick-cut Bacon - Bake your bacon in the oven while you make the BBQ sauce.
BBQ Sauce - Homemade, low FODMAP, and absolutely delicious!
Cheddar Cheese - Classic, melted cheddar cheese smothers the chicken, holding the bacon in place.

See the recipe card for the exact measurements and complete instructions. Selected ingredients are based on current serving sizes measured by the Monash FODMAP App at the time of publishing. As always, follow your gut and modify as needed.

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Instructions

single layer of bacon on a cookie sheet.

Bake or fry the bacon. My preferred method is to bake the bacon on a wire rack on top of a baking sheet in a 400 degree F oven for 15-18 minutes or until done to desired crispiness.

mason jar of bbq sauce filled with a wooden spoon inside.

Make a batch of Low FODMAP BBQ sauce on the stovetop while your bacon cooks.

thinly sliced chicken on a cutting board.

Trim and slice your chicken into thin pieces, cut the long way. Or purchase your chicken breasts already thinly cut for a shortcut.

Allow the BBQ sauce to cool, and pour one cup of BBQ sauce into the bottom of a greased 9”x13” pan.

chicken topped with bacon and cheddar cheese.

Add the chicken breasts on top of the BBQ sauce in the pan. Then top with more BBQ sauce.

Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes. Slice the cooked bacon in half and add two pieces to each chicken breast. If it is a larger chicken breast, place three or four pieces of bacon so the entire chicken breast is covered with bacon.

Then top each chicken breast with a slice of cheddar cheese. The cheese will help hold the bacon in place. Put the pan back in the oven and bake for another 15 minutes or until the chicken has an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for fifteen minutes. Serve immediately with baked potatoes or cheesy potatoes and glazed green beans.

Substitutions

Chicken - Use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. They will require a longer cooking time. Monitor and keep taking the temperature to determine when fully cooked.

Variations

Bacon - For a healthier version, use turkey bacon.
BBQ Sauce - Short on time and want to use a store-bought BBQ sauce? Read the ingredients carefully and look for a BBQ sauce that does not have high fructose corn syrup, garlic, and onions listed in the ingredients.
Cheese - Want a spicier, melty cheese? Swap the cheddar cheese for pepper jack cheese.

Low FODMAP Notes

Where are the FODMAPs hiding in this low FODMAP BBQ bacon chicken recipe?

BBQ Sauce - If you do not use the best homemade BBQ sauce recipe, either substitute your favorite version without FODMAPs or a version you know you can tolerate.
Cheddar Cheese - If you cannot tolerate lactose, substitute it with a lactose-free version or leave it off. Monash Food App has tested cheddar cheese safe at two slices at the time of publishing.
Bacon - Verify the ingredients listed on the bacon to be sure it is FODMAP friendly.

Storage

If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, place them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. They will keep for up to four days. If you want to freeze leftovers for a later date, the BBQ bacon chicken will freeze great. I would dice it up and repurpose it into BBQ chicken pizza or BBQ chicken tacos. The chicken will defrost faster if it isn’t in a large chicken breast form.

sliced chicken on a wooden cutting board.

Meal Planning

Change the cooking method - Grill It - BBQ bacon chicken is great on the grill! Marinate the chicken in a cup of homemade BBQ sauce for up to 12 hours. Place on the grill and cook on indirect heat the meat until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F once temp is reached. Top with half a slice of bacon and a slice of cheddar cheese. Once the cheese melts, remove from the grill.

Serve It With - all delicious options - BBQ bacon chicken with glazed green beans, corn pudding, tiny roasted potatoes, crockpot mac and cheese, gluten-free cheesy potatoes, or low FODMAP pasta salad.

FAQs

Will the BBQ sauce burn if the chicken is grilled or in the baking dish?

It is possible, which is why we cook the chicken in a moderate-temperature oven or over indirect heat on the grill. The edges of the pan may have some darkened BBQ sauce.

Can I skip adding the bacon to the chicken?

You certainly can skip adding the bacon to the chicken. Adding half of the bacon will cut calories and still give you great flavor. Another option is to use turkey bacon.