Creamy Honey Mustard Bacon Chicken

This is one of the many (many!) pins I've saved on Pinterest.  It looked good so I saved it and I finally thought I would make it.  I had chicken thighs in the fridge (thinking I would just do my simple roasted chicken thighs with one of my Penzeys spices.  But here was this recipe as I was scrolling through my pins looking for ideas for the coming week - and she said chicken thighs would work too.  And I had milk and cream in the fridge - no extra stops at the store to get special ingredients.  Win!  It did take longer (as per usual) than the blogger said (could have been how long it took the bacon - I used what I had left in the fridge, a half pound - to cook).  And I skipped the parsley.



Ingredients

1/3 cup honey
3 level tablespoons whole grain mustard
1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic, (or 3-4 cloves crushed garlic)
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt to season
5 skinless and boneless chicken breasts (or chicken thighs)
1/2 cup diced bacon, trimmed of rind and fat (I used 4 small bacon rashers)
1/3 cup cream (light or reduced fat) *SEE NOTES FOR SUBSTITUTION OPTIONS
1 cup milk (skim, 2% or full fat - almond milk may be used for a dairy free option)
1 teaspoon cornstarch (corn flour) mixed with 1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

1. In a large, shallow dish, combine the honey, mustard, garlic, oil and salt to taste (not too much salt if serving
with bacon as the bacon will add a salty flavor when served). Coat chicken evenly in the sauce. Set aside.
2. Heat a nonstick pan (or skillet) over medium heat. Fry bacon until crispy; transfer to a plate. To the same pan,
sear chicken fillets on each side in the oil left over from the bacon until just beginning to brown (about 3
minutes per side -- not completely cooked through as we will finish them in the sauce).
3. Add any remaining honey mustard sauce into the pan along with the cream and milk. Bring to a simmer while
stirring occasionally to mix the flavors through the sauce (about 3 minutes), until the chicken is cooked
through. Transfer the chicken to a warm plate.
4. Pour the cornstarch mixture into the centre of the pan, mixing it through the sauce until it thickens. Place
chicken back into the pan; coat with the sauce. Top with the bacon and garnish with parsley.
5.Serve over steamed / roasted vegetables for lower cal options. Also great with pasta, rice or mashed
potatoes!