Prepare to experience a taste sensation that captures the very essence of a beloved New York City bagel, but in a surprisingly healthy and satisfying form! This incredible Everything Bagel Chicken with Scallion Cream Cheese Sauce transforms ordinary chicken breasts into an extraordinary meal. Each succulent piece of chicken is generously coated in the iconic Everything But the Bagel seasoning, then baked to golden perfection. The magic doesn’t stop there; it’s then lavishly smothered in a rich, creamy, and irresistibly tangy scallion cream cheese sauce, creating a symphony of flavors that will transport you straight to bagel heaven without the carbs.
Before You Begin: Essential Tips for Success
- Softening Cream Cheese is Key: For a smooth, lump-free sauce, ensure your cream cheese is properly softened before attempting to mix in the scallions, butter, and seasoning. If you’ve forgotten to take it out in advance, simply place it in a medium, microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 50% power in 20-second intervals, stirring thoroughly after each interval, until it reaches a soft, pliable consistency.
- Achieve Perfectly Cooked Chicken with an Internal Thermometer: The secret to moist, tender chicken every time is to use an internal meat thermometer. We highly recommend a reliable probe thermometer that alerts you when the desired temperature is reached. Set your thermometer to 160º Fahrenheit. The chicken will continue to cook slightly during its resting period, bringing it up to the food-safe internal temperature of 165° Fahrenheit, guaranteeing juicy results without overcooking.
- Even Thickness for Even Cooking: For consistent cooking and to prevent thinner parts from drying out, consider lightly pounding the thicker sections of your chicken breasts to an even 1-inch thickness. This ensures all parts of the chicken cook uniformly and reach perfection at the same time.
Experience the Beloved Bagel Flavor, Reimagined for Chicken!
Let’s settle a debate: Is the Everything bagel truly the ultimate bagel? For many, the answer is an undeniable “yes!” While a cinnamon raisin bagel might win for sweet cravings, when it comes to savory indulgence, the Everything bagel reigns supreme. And its counterpart, Everything But the Bagel seasoning, is nothing short of culinary royalty. With its classic, irresistible blend of toasted sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and a hint of salt, this seasoning offers a garlicky, oniony flavor profile and a satisfying crunch that makes you want to sprinkle it on just about everything imaginable.
And yes, that absolutely includes – perhaps especially – this magnificent Everything Bagel Chicken with Scallion Cream Cheese Sauce. This ingenious recipe takes all the best elements of a classic Everything bagel and its creamy scallion companion, expertly translating them into a keto and low-carb dinner. You get all the robust, savory flavors and delightful textures without the squishy carbs or the post-bagel bloat. It’s a guilt-free gourmet experience that’s surprisingly easy to whip up, making it perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion when you’re looking to impress with minimal effort.
Why This Everything Bagel Chicken Recipe is a Weeknight Winner
This recipe isn’t just delicious; it’s designed for convenience and incredible flavor, making it an instant favorite. Here’s what makes this dish truly stand out:
- The Everything Bagel seasoning provides a super flavorful, aromatic, and delightfully crunchy crust that perfectly seals in the chicken’s juices. It’s an explosion of garlic, onion, and sesame in every bite.
- The homemade scallion cream cheese sauce is ridiculously easy to prepare and absolutely exquisite. Its creamy texture and tangy onion notes perfectly complement the seasoned chicken. Warning: you might find yourself wanting to put this sauce on everything!
- This recipe is thoughtfully crafted to be keto and low-carb friendly, boasting only 2g net carbs per serving. It’s a fantastic option for those following dietary restrictions without sacrificing taste or satisfaction.
- With a prep time of just 10 minutes and a cook time of 30 minutes, this meal comes together in under an hour, making it ideal for busy weeknights when you need a wholesome yet exciting dinner fast.
- It offers versatile serving options, pairing beautifully with simple green salads, steamed vegetables, or even cauliflower rice, allowing you to easily adjust it to your dietary needs and preferences.
Where to Find Everything But the Bagel Seasoning (or Make Your Own!)
Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning gained immense popularity after its debut at Trader Joe’s, quickly becoming a pantry staple for many home cooks. Its widespread appeal means you can now find various versions at most major grocery stores in the spice aisle. If you use it as much as we do, you might consider ordering a large container from Amazon, allowing you to be as generous as you like with this flavorful blend!
For those who enjoy a DIY approach or if you simply don’t have any on hand tonight, making your own Everything Bagel seasoning is surprisingly simple. You’ll typically need white sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, and flaky sea salt. Don’t worry if you only have one type of poppy seed; feel free to swap white for black or vice versa—the flavor will remain fantastic!
Recipe Variations to Suit Every Diet
One of the best aspects of this Everything Bagel Chicken recipe is its adaptability. With a few simple substitutions, you can easily tailor it to meet various dietary needs, ensuring everyone at your table can enjoy this delicious meal.
- Make it Paleo-Friendly: Transforming this into a paleo recipe is incredibly straightforward. Simply swap out traditional butter for ghee (clarified butter), replace the half-and-half with your preferred unsweetened, non-dairy milk (such as almond milk or full-fat coconut milk), and choose a high-quality dairy-free cream cheese, like those offered by brands such as Kite Hill or Miyoko’s Kitchen.
- Make it Dairy-Free: For a completely dairy-free Everything Bagel chicken, the modifications are similar to the paleo version. Use vegan butter or a neutral-flavored oil (like avocado oil) instead of butter, opt for a dairy-free cream cheese, and select your favorite unsweetened non-dairy milk. Always double-check that your chosen non-dairy milk is unsweetened to maintain the savory profile of the dish.
Please note: While these substitutions are straightforward and generally successful, altering a recipe can sometimes lead to varied results. Any variations or substitutions listed here are suggestions based on successful adaptations, but outcomes are not guaranteed.
Cheryl Malik
Everything Bagel Chicken with Scallion Cream Cheese Sauce
10 minutes
30 minutes
40 minutes
Cheryl Malik
4
servings
Equipment
- Oven
- 9×9 baking dish (or 9×13 for larger batches)
- Pastry brush
- Internal meat thermometer (highly recommended)
Ingredients
For the Everything Bagel Chicken
- 4 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 6-8 ounces each)
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- Salt, to taste
- 4 tablespoons Everything But the Bagel seasoning
For the Scallion Cream Cheese Sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon Everything But the Bagel seasoning
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 6 tablespoons chopped green onions (approximately ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons)
- ¼ cup half-and-half (or milk)
- Salt, to taste
Optional Serving Suggestions
- Thinly sliced green onions, for garnish
- Extra Everything But the Bagel seasoning, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400º Fahrenheit (200º Celsius). Place the 4 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts top-down in a 9×9 baking dish.
- Using a pastry brush, evenly coat the surface of the chicken breasts with half of the 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Season generously with salt to taste over the buttered chicken.
- Sprinkle half of the 4 tablespoons of Everything But the Bagel seasoning over the buttered chicken. Carefully flip the chicken breasts over to season the other side.
- Brush the tops of the chicken breasts with the remaining melted butter, sprinkle with salt, and then coat thoroughly with the remaining Everything But the Bagel seasoning.
- Place the baking dish in the preheated oven. Bake the chicken for 25 to 35 minutes, or until an internal meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 160º Fahrenheit (71º Celsius).
- Once the target temperature is reached, carefully remove the baking dish from the oven. Set the chicken aside to rest for 5 minutes. This resting period is crucial for the juices to redistribute, ensuring tender and moist chicken.
- While the chicken rests, prepare the scallion cream cheese sauce. Melt the 1 tablespoon of butter in a medium bowl. Add the 1 teaspoon of Everything But the Bagel seasoning, the 4 ounces of softened cream cheese, 6 tablespoons of chopped green onions, and ¼ cup of half-and-half to the bowl. Whisk vigorously until all ingredients are fully incorporated into a smooth, creamy sauce. Taste the sauce and add additional salt if needed.
- Transfer the rested chicken breasts to individual serving plates. Spoon a generous amount of the freshly prepared scallion cream cheese sauce over the tops of the chicken breasts. For an extra touch of flavor and visual appeal, garnish with thinly sliced green onions and a final sprinkle of Everything But the Bagel seasoning, if desired. Serve warm and enjoy immediately!
Video
Notes
- Cooking Times: Please note that baking times can vary significantly based on the size and thickness of your chicken breasts. Always rely on an internal thermometer for the most accurate cooking.
- Small chicken breasts (approx. 4-5 oz): approximately 20-25 minutes
- Medium chicken breasts (approx. 6-8 oz): approximately 25-30 minutes
- Large chicken breasts (approx. 9-10+ oz): approximately 30-35 minutes
- Make Ahead Tip: The scallion cream cheese sauce can be prepared a day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring frequently, or in the microwave in short bursts until warm and smooth. You might need to add an extra splash of half-and-half or milk to achieve the desired consistency if it thickens too much.
Approximate Nutrition Information for One Serving
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 392 cal
- Protein: 39 g
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Cholesterol: 167 mg
- Sodium: 1239 mg
- Potassium: 677 mg
- Total Carbs: 2 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Sugar: 1 g
- Net Carbs: 2 g
- Vitamin A: 457 IU
- Vitamin C: 4 mg
- Calcium: 54 mg
- Iron: 1 mg
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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Craving More? Discover These Related Recipes!
If you’re a fan of this Everything Bagel Chicken, you’re in for a treat with these other flavorful and often diet-friendly recipes from our kitchen. Expand your culinary horizons and find your next favorite meal:
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