When Mr. Bar-B-Q asked if I was interested in trying their new bacon tray, why would I say no?

That’s like asking someone if they want to borrow a cute pair of shoes that make your ankles look slim and your kneecaps sessy.

In fact, not only did they send a tray that is perfect for cooking bacon, both in the oven and on the grill, it got me thinking about a stuffed chicken breast recipe idea I’d been wanting to test for some time.

How could I combine the richness of cream cheese with the smoky qualities of bacon and the zip of jalapenos, all wrapped in a chicken breast that even my picky family would eat? The answer, my friends, is not blowing in the wind, but it was smoking on the grill.

This stuffed chicken breast is so packed with flavor that it disappeared before the bacon.

Juicy and fresh, this chicken breast makes terrific leftovers, too. And for only 1.9 net carbs per 1/2 of a large, stuffed breast, you can go a little crazy and keep an entire breast to yourself, so long as the kids aren’t watching.

For this chicken recipe, first some bacon had to be cooked to perfection. Mr. Barb-B-Q’s non-stick bacon tray made terrific slices of bacon quickly and easily, draining the fat away for further use.

The only bummer? Its tall profile. When sing in the oven you’re going to want to move the racks down, and to store, you’ll have to be a little creative as well. I can store it in the grill and use it whenever I have the hankering for porcine perfection. Just make sure to check appliances before pre-heating if you store your pans and racks in them. (I know some of you know what I’m talking about first-hand, so don’t look at me that way.)

As you can see, all of the grease is captured for future use. I even use a jelly roll pan to stabilize the bacon tray because the thought of a mess makes me have a case of the sads. This way I have no mess, get all the bacon I want, and I can even fit an entire 12 ounce package of bacon on the tray for baking in the oven. I have never had the grease trap overfill either–a bonus.

Voila. It’s bacon, babies! Enjoy with your eyeballs.

Are you done yet? Come on. We have stuffed breasts to discuss, and you know I’m not talking about the Real Housewives Reunion shows this week.

Easy Jalapeno Bacon Stuffed Chicken

2 large, raw, boneless chicken breasts

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

8 slices jalapeno, chopped

3 slices bacon, chopped

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp onion powder

Remove membranes from chicken. Carefully cut a slit in the side/top of the chicken to form a pocket the length of the chicken. Brine chicken in 2 Tbsp olive oil and 1.5 Tbsp lemon juice for an hour.

Combine softened cream cheese with jalapeno, bacon, pepper, garlic and onion. Secure closed with a toothpick if it makes you feel more comfortable.

Grill chicken for 12 minutes per side, or bake in a 325 degree Fahrenheit oven for 45 minutes.

Makes 2 large chicken breasts, or 4 servings.

Nutritional information per serving: Calories: 575, Carbohydrates: 2 g, Fiber: .1 g, Net Carbohydrates: 1.9 g, Protein: 55 g, Fat: 37.6 g

Mr. BBQ Bacon Tray

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Price: $NA

Usefulness: In the oven or on the grill for cooking bacon

Negative: It’s large enough that it could be difficult to store, especially in tight quarters.

Store Locator: NA

Website: Mr. BBQ

Disclosure: Mr. BBQ provided this product free of charge for review, but this has not affected my review of the item.