Hunters Chicken With Homemade Barbeque Sauce
If you’ve never had Hunters Chicken before, you are in for the ultimate comfort food treat. Imagine juicy chicken breasts wrapped in smoky bacon, baked until golden, then smothered in a rich, tangy homemade BBQ sauce and topped with gooey, bubbling cheese. It’s smoky, sweet, cheesy, and savory all at once, basically, a big warm hug on a plate.
Hunters Chicken, also known as Chicken New Yorker in some restaurants, has classic British pub roots but fits right in with American-style comfort cooking thanks to the BBQ twist. The star of the dish is definitely the sauce; it’s not just store-bought, but homemade from scratch with onions, garlic, tomatoes, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and a touch of brown sugar for that irresistible sweet-savory balance. Don’t be fooled into thinking that makes it hard to make, its super easy to make this hunters chicken with homemade barbeque sauce.
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Why This Hunters Chicken Recipe Works
- Smoked bacon – Wrapping the chicken keeps it juicy while infusing it with smoky, savory goodness.
- Homemade BBQ sauce – This isn’t your average bottled BBQ! Fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, and vinegar give it layers of flavor you just can’t beat.
- Cheese topping – Because bacon + BBQ + chicken is amazing, but add melty cheese and it goes straight to legendary status.
- Family-friendly – Serves 4 perfectly, and it’s easy to scale up for a crowd.
- Restaurant classic at home – Save money (and calories) by making this restaurant favorite in your own kitchen, exactly the way you like it.
Method:
Step 1: Preheat your oven
Set your oven to 350°F (180°C). You’ll want it nice and hot so the chicken and bacon can get that golden, slightly crispy finish.
Step 2: Make the BBQ sauce
Heat a little oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Toss in the chopped onion and cook for about 4–5 minutes until softened and sweet-smelling. Stir in the garlic, tomatoes, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato purée. Season with salt and pepper. Bring everything to a gentle boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer for 20 minutes until thickened. If you like a smooth sauce, blitz it with a hand blender or food processor.
Step 3: Wrap the chicken
Take your chicken breasts and wrap each one snugly with 4 rashers of smoked bacon. Place them seam-side down in an ovenproof dish so the bacon stays put while cooking. Pop them in the oven for 20-25 minutes. This allows any excess water to cook out of the chicken before you add the sauce.
Step 4: Add sauce and cheese
Take the chicken out, carefully drain off any excess juices (this keeps your BBQ sauce from going watery). Spoon over a generous layer of the BBQ sauce, then sprinkle cheese on top like you mean it. Your hunters chicken is ready to go back into the oven.
Step 5: Bake until bubbly perfection
Return the dish to the oven for another 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through, the bacon is crispy, and the cheese is melted, bubbly, and just starting to crisp. Serve hot with fries, mashed potatoes, or even a fresh salad if you want a lighter touch.
Hunter’s Chicken FAQ
Q: Can I use store-bought BBQ sauce instead?
A: Absolutely! Homemade is extra flavorful, but if you’re short on time, your favorite bottled BBQ sauce will still work great.
Q: What cheese works best for hunters chicken?
A: Cheddar is a classic, but Monterey Jack, mozzarella, or even a smoky gouda would be delicious.
Q: How do I know when the chicken is done?
A: Use a meat thermometer, the chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) at the thickest part.
Q: Can I prep this ahead of time?
A: Yes! You can wrap the chicken and make the BBQ sauce a day in advance. Assemble with sauce and cheese right before baking.
Q: Can I freeze Hunters Chicken?
A: Yep! Cook, cool, then freeze in portions. Reheat in the oven until piping hot.
Q: What sides go best with hunters chicken?
A: Fries, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, garlic bread, or even a crisp green salad.
Q: Can I make it spicier?
A: Totally! Add chili powder, cayenne, or even a splash of hot sauce to the BBQ sauce.
Variations of Hunters Chicken
- Spicy Hunters Chicken – Add chopped jalapeños or a spoon of chipotle paste to the BBQ sauce.
- Tex-Mex Style – Use pepper jack cheese and sprinkle with fresh cilantro before serving.
- Low-Carb Version – Skip the sugar in the BBQ sauce and serve with roasted veggies instead of potatoes.
- Hunter’s Chicken Casserole – Cut the chicken into chunks, mix with BBQ sauce, bacon, and cheese, then bake as a cheesy casserole.
- BBQ Pulled Hunter’s Chicken – Shred the cooked chicken and bacon, mix into the sauce, and serve on toasted buns with slaw.
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Hunters Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 16 rashers smoked bacon
- 1 cup grated cheese cheddar or mozzarella
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 2 cups passata
- 3 garlic cloves finely chopped
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Wrap each chicken breast in 4 bacon rashers. Bake 20 mins to allow the chicken and bacon to release any liquid (we dont want watery bbq sauce)
- Cook onion in oil 4–5 mins, then add garlic, tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire, purée. Simmer 20 mins. Blend if smooth sauce desired.
- Drain juices from the chicken, top with BBQ sauce and cheese. Bake another 15-20 mins until golden and cooked through.
This was so good, will definitely be making that BBQ sauce again.