If you are looking for a hearty baked dinner packed with tender chicken, crispy bacon, melted cheese, garlic, and herbs, this Cheesy Chicken Bacon Stuffed Stromboli is an excellent recipe to make. Pizza dough is filled with seasoned chicken, smoky bacon, mozzarella, cheddar, Parmesan, and a creamy garlic spread, then rolled tightly and baked until golden and crisp.
This recipe is perfect for family dinners, game day, parties, movie nights, or anytime you want something warm, cheesy, and easy to slice and share. The crust becomes crisp on the outside while the filling stays rich and gooey inside.
Serve the stromboli with warm marinara, ranch, garlic butter, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Chicken Bacon Stuffed Stromboli
The combination of chicken, bacon, and melted cheese makes this stromboli rich and satisfying.
Using prepared pizza dough keeps the recipe simple while still giving you a homemade baked result.
Mozzarella gives the filling plenty of cheese pull, cheddar adds sharper flavor, and Parmesan adds a savory finish.
The stromboli can also be assembled ahead of time and baked shortly before serving.
It is easy to customize with spinach, jalapeños, mushrooms, onions, or extra cheese.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
For the Bacon
- 8 slices bacon, cooked until crisp and chopped
For the Creamy Garlic Spread
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise or sour cream
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the Stromboli
- 1 pound refrigerated or homemade pizza dough
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded provolone or Monterey Jack cheese
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, for rolling
For the Garlic Butter Topping
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
For Serving
- Warm marinara sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Garlic butter
- Fresh parsley
- Extra Parmesan
How to Make Cheesy Chicken Bacon Stuffed Stromboli
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the Chicken
Pat the chicken dry.
Cut it into small bite-sized pieces.
Keeping the chicken pieces relatively small makes the stromboli easier to roll and slice.
3. Season the Chicken
Place the chicken in a bowl.
Add salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning.
Toss until evenly coated.
4. Cook the Chicken
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the chicken.
Cook for approximately 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and cooked through.
Chicken should reach 165°F (74°C).
Transfer to a plate and let it cool slightly.
5. Cook the Bacon
Cook the bacon until crisp.
Transfer to paper towels or a wire rack to drain.
Once cool enough to handle, chop it into small pieces.
6. Make the Garlic Cream Cheese Spread
In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise or sour cream, garlic, Parmesan, parsley, Italian seasoning, and black pepper.
Mix until smooth.
7. Prepare the Dough
Lightly flour your work surface.
Roll the pizza dough into a rectangle approximately 10×14 inches.
Try to keep the thickness even throughout.
8. Transfer to Parchment
For easier handling, move the rolled dough onto a sheet of parchment paper before filling.
9. Add the Garlic Spread
Spread the cream cheese mixture over the dough.
Leave approximately a 1-inch border around the edges.
10. Add Mozzarella
Sprinkle approximately half of the mozzarella over the cream cheese layer.
Starting with cheese helps hold the filling together.
11. Add the Chicken
Scatter the cooked chicken evenly across the cheese.
Avoid piling too much filling in the center.
12. Add the Bacon
Sprinkle the chopped bacon evenly over the chicken.
13. Add Remaining Cheese
Top with the remaining mozzarella, cheddar, provolone or Monterey Jack, and Parmesan.
14. Keep the Edges Clear
Make sure the outer border remains mostly free from filling.
Clean edges are easier to seal and reduce the chance of cheese leaking during baking.
15. Roll the Stromboli
Starting from one long side, carefully roll the dough tightly into a log.
Use the parchment paper to help guide the roll if necessary.
16. Seal the Seam
Pinch the long seam firmly closed.
Pinch both ends and tuck them slightly underneath.
17. Place Seam-Side Down
Transfer the stromboli to the prepared baking sheet with the seam underneath.
This helps keep it closed during baking.
18. Cut Steam Vents
Using a sharp knife, make 4–5 shallow diagonal slits across the top.
These allow steam to escape and help prevent the dough from splitting.
19. Make the Garlic Butter
Combine melted butter, minced garlic, parsley, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
20. Brush the Stromboli
Brush approximately half of the garlic butter over the top and sides.
21. Add Parmesan
Sprinkle grated Parmesan over the buttered dough.
22. Bake
Bake for approximately 25–35 minutes.
The crust should become deeply golden and cooked through.
If the top is browning too quickly, loosely cover it with foil during the final portion of baking.
23. Check the Bottom
The bottom crust should feel firm and baked rather than soft or doughy.
A very heavily filled stromboli may require a few additional minutes.
24. Add More Garlic Butter
Remove the stromboli from the oven.
Immediately brush with the remaining garlic butter.
25. Rest Before Slicing
Let the stromboli rest for approximately 8–10 minutes.
This is important because the melted cheese and filling need time to settle.
26. Slice
Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the stromboli into thick slices.
27. Garnish
Finish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan.
28. Serve
Serve warm with marinara, ranch, or additional garlic butter for dipping.
What to Serve With Chicken Bacon Stromboli
This stromboli works as a full meal on its own, but it pairs beautifully with:
- Warm marinara sauce
- Caesar salad
- Garden salad
- Garlic bread
- Roasted broccoli
- Green beans
- Roasted zucchini
- French fries
- Potato wedges
For parties, slice it into smaller pieces and serve with several dipping sauces.
Tips for the Best Chicken Bacon Stromboli
Let the chicken cool slightly before assembling.
Cook the bacon until crisp.
Do not overload the dough.
Keep the filling away from the edges.
Use low-moisture mozzarella to reduce excess liquid.
Roll firmly but not so tightly that the dough tears.
Seal the seam thoroughly.
Always place the seam underneath.
Cut steam vents before baking.
Let the stromboli rest before slicing.
Use parchment paper for easier transfer and cleanup.
Easy Recipe Variations
Chicken Bacon Ranch Stromboli
Replace the creamy garlic spread with a thin layer of ranch dressing or add ranch seasoning to the filling.
Buffalo Chicken Bacon Stromboli
Toss the cooked chicken with buffalo sauce before assembling.
Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Jalapeño Chicken Bacon Stromboli
Add sliced jalapeños and use pepper Jack cheese.
BBQ Chicken Bacon Stromboli
Toss the chicken with barbecue sauce and use cheddar and mozzarella.
Spinach Chicken Stromboli
Add 1 cup cooked spinach, squeezed very dry.
Mushroom Chicken Bacon Stromboli
Add sautéed mushrooms to the filling.
Make sure they are cooked until their moisture has evaporated.
Extra Cheesy Stromboli
Add additional mozzarella, provolone, or Monterey Jack.
Chicken Alfredo Stromboli
Use a thin layer of thick Alfredo sauce instead of the cream cheese spread.
How to Store Leftovers
Allow leftover stromboli to cool before transferring it to an airtight container.
Refrigerate for up to 3–4 days.
For the best texture, reheat slices in a 375°F (190°C) oven for approximately 8–10 minutes.
An air fryer also works very well at around 350–375°F for several minutes.
Microwaving is faster but softens the crust.
For freezing, wrap cooled individual slices tightly and place them in a freezer-safe container.
Freeze for up to approximately 2 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or reheat from frozen until hot throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes.
Use approximately 3 cups chopped cooked rotisserie chicken and skip the chicken-cooking step.
Can I use store-bought pizza dough?
Absolutely.
Refrigerated pizza dough works very well and saves time.
Why did my stromboli split open?
It may have been overfilled, rolled too tightly, or not vented properly.
Leave room around the edges and cut several steam slits before baking.
Why is the center doughy?
The stromboli may have been rolled too thickly or filled with too many wet ingredients.
Bake a little longer and keep sauces and vegetables relatively dry.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes.
Assemble the stromboli several hours ahead, cover, and refrigerate.
Brush with garlic butter just before baking.
What cheese works best?
Mozzarella is excellent for melt and stretch, while cheddar, provolone, Monterey Jack, and Parmesan add extra flavor.
Can I use turkey bacon?
Yes.
Cook it until crisp before adding it to the filling.
Can I make smaller strombolis?
Yes.
Divide the dough and filling into two smaller rolls and reduce the baking time slightly.
Final Thoughts
This Cheesy Chicken Bacon Stuffed Stromboli combines juicy seasoned chicken, crispy bacon, creamy garlic filling, mozzarella, cheddar, provolone, Parmesan, and golden pizza dough in one satisfying baked meal.
The key is keeping the filling relatively dry, avoiding overstuffing, sealing the dough well, and allowing the stromboli to rest before slicing.
Serve it warm with marinara or ranch for a cheesy, crispy, family-friendly dinner that is just as good for game day and parties as it is for an easy weeknight meal.