Hunters Chicken
Our twist on a popular family favourite, Hunters Chicken is perfect for people counting calories or following a diet plan like Weight Watchers!
Also in these categories:
NutritionPer Serving
- Calories314
- Carbs10g
- Protein42g
- Fat3g
- Saturates1g
- Sugars6g
For the full list of ingredients and comprehensive instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post. Before you scroll, there’s important stuff to know in the blurb!
When you visit any chain restaurant or diner, you’ll usually find a variation on Hunters Chicken on the menu. They’re normally packed with calories and swimming in oil, so we’ve created a guilt free version!
We don’t know about you, but we LOVE cheese: any type, colour or strength, we enjoy them all. This recipe makes cheese the star of the show as it bubbles away on top of a rich, smoky sauce. In fact, our Hunters Chicken is so good we’re confident it will become a family favourite in no time.
There are a couple of ways of cooking Hunters Chicken to perfection; you can even prep it and pop in the slow cooker so you can get on with your day and return home to a mouth watering aroma filling the kitchen. Now that’s the kind of recipe we love!
What diet is this Hunters Chicken suitable for?
This Hunters Chicken recipe is suitable if you’re gluten free, as long as you swap out the following ingredients for gluten free versions;
- Worcestershire Sauce
Please make sure to double or triple check all of your ingredients if you’re cooking for people with allergies.
Do you need any special ingredients or equipment to make Hunters Chicken?
As you know we like to make things easy, so you should have pretty much all of the ingredients in the cupboard already.
Franks Buffalo Wings Hot Sauce is one of our favourites as it’s smoky and delicious, and available in the spice aisle of most supermarkets but you can substitute it for any hot sauce, Tabasco or a pinch of chilli powder if you can’t find it.
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You can pick up a slow cooker like this one from Amazon.
We use a stick blender like this to make the BBQ sauce, because they are so easy to use and (just as importantly) so easy to clean.
If you’re anything like us you’ll always have a pack of cocktails sticks lurking at the back of the cupboard, usually leftover from Christmas.
But if not you can pick some up from any supermarket or from Amazon.
How many calories are in this Hunters Chicken?
There are 314 calories in each portion of our slimming friendly Hunters Chicken recipe. This means it falls into our Everyday Light category.
This Hunters Chicken is perfect if you’re following a calorie controlled diet and fits well with any one of the major diet plans such as Weight Watchers.
As a guide, an average man needs around 2,500kcal (10,500kJ) a day to maintain a healthy body weight. For an average woman, that figure is around 2,000kcal (8,400kJ) a day. Obviously, if your goal is to lose weight then you might want to adjust these slightly! You can read more about these recommendations on the NHS website.
Slow cooker method
Step 1
Take each chicken breast, wrap a bacon medallion around the middle and secure it with a cocktail stick.
Step 2
Set the chicken aside, then add all of the remaining ingredients into the slow cooker and stir well.
Step 3
Place the chicken on top and replace the lid. Cook on high for 2.5 – 3 hours (or low if you’re leaving it on all day).
Step 4
When the time is up check that the chicken is cooked. Remove it from the slow cooker and set aside.
Step 5
Blitz the sauce with a stick blender until smooth.
Step 6
Place the cooked chicken in an ovenproof dish and remove the cocktail sticks.
Step 7
Pour the sauce over the chicken breasts and top with cheese. Divide the cheese equally between all for chicken breasts.
Step 8
Place under a hot grill until the cheese is melted and a nice golden colour.
Oven method
Step 1
Take each chicken breast, wrap a bacon medallion around the middle and secure it with a cocktail stick.
Step 2
Set the chicken aside, then add all of the remaining ingredients into an oven-proof dish with a tight fitting lid.
Step 3
Place the chicken on top and replace the lid. Cook for 1 hour at 180°C.
Step 4
When the time is up check that the chicken is cooked. Remove it from the dish and set aside.
Step 5
Blitz the sauce with a stick blender until smooth.
Step 6
Place the cooked chicken in an ovenproof dish and remove the cocktail sticks.
Step 7
Pour the sauce over the chicken breasts and top with cheese. Divide the cheese equally between all for chicken breasts.
Step 8
Place under a hot grill until the cheese is melted and a nice golden colour.
What should you serve with this Hunters Chicken?
Any of the following go really well with Hunters Chicken. It’s one of those dishes that goes with pretty much anything.
How do you know when this Hunters Chicken is cooked?
As with all chicken dishes, it will be cooked when the juices run clear after pricking the chicken with a fork.
This should take approx 1 hour in the oven, and 3 hours in the slow cooker.
Standard advice here in the UK is to cook food until it has reached 70°C and stayed at that temperature for 2 minutes. This is to keep your family safe.
How long can you keep Hunters Chicken in the fridge?
Once you’ve put it out, ideally you should eat it within 4 hours.
If you allow any left overs to cool, make sure to refrigerate them straight away, in a container with a lid. You can keep leftovers of Hunters Chicken in the fridge for approximately 2 or 3 days.
Can I freeze Hunters Chicken?
Yes you can! This recipe can be frozen, but please remember to do the following;
- Freeze it as soon as it is cold enough.
- Use a container or bag that is suitable for freezing.
Don’t forget to add a label with what it is, and on what date you put it in the freezer! Unless you fancy mystery food for dinner haha.
How do I reheat Hunters Chicken?
From chilled: Place in a microwave proof container with loosely fitting lid and heat for 4-7 minutes until piping hot.
From frozen: Allow to defrost, and heat covered in the microwave for 3-5 minutes then stir. Cook for a further 5-7 minutes until piping hot.
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Hunters Chicken
A cheesy BBQ favourite, Hunters Chicken is perfect for people counting calories or following a diet plan like Weight Watchers!
-
Prep Time
10 MINS
-
Cook Time
3 HR
- KCals 314
- Carbs 10G
Instructions
Slow Cooker Method
- Take each chicken breast, wrap a bacon medallion around the middle and secure it with a cocktail stick
- Set the chicken aside, then add all of the remaining ingredients into the slow cooker and stir well
- Place the chicken on top and replace the lid. Cook on high for 2.5 - 3 hours (or low if you're leaving it on all day)
- When the time is up check that the chicken is cooked. Remove it from the slow cooker and set aside
- Blitz the sauce with a stick blender until smooth
- Place the cooked chicken in an ovenproof dish and remove the cocktail sticks
- Pour the sauce over the chicken breasts and top with cheese. Divide the cheese equally between all for chicken breasts
- Place under a hot grill until the cheese is melted and a nice golden colour
Oven Method
- Take each chicken breast, wrap a bacon medallion around the middle and secure it with a cocktail stick
- Set the chicken aside, then add all of the remaining ingredients into an oven-proof dish with a tight fitting lid
- Place the chicken on top and replace the lid. Cook for 1 hour at 180°C
- When the time is up check that the chicken is cooked. Remove it from the dish and set aside
- Blitz the sauce with a stick blender until smooth
- Place the cooked chicken in an ovenproof dish and remove the cocktail sticks
- Pour the sauce over the chicken breasts and top with cheese. Divide the cheese equally between all for chicken breasts
- Place under a hot grill until the cheese is melted and a nice golden colour
Looking for Slimming World Syns or Weight Watchers (WW) Points?
With ever-changing plans and point calculations, we have made the decision to remove WW Points from the website - referring to your individual plan or advice from your consultant is always going to give the most accurate results.
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97 comments
See what others have to say
Laura AshleyMonday 10th October 2022
I don’t have a blender is there any other way to do the sauce? I’ve brought all the ingredients to make this didn’t realise until now we no longer have one. Thank you xx
HollyTuesday 11th October 2022
Hi Laura, you could cut the onion very finely rather than blend it you would get a sauce with a coarser texture but it will still taste great!
LucyWednesday 18th May 2022
I need advice please but my comment keeps getting deleted?? How do I leave the hunters chicken in slow cooker all day without the chicken going dry?
HollyWednesday 18th May 2022
Hey Lucy, It sounds like it’s been overcooked. It could be that your slow cooker has been at too high of a temperature so although you have set it on low the particular model you have is more of a medium heat. We have an article HERE for slow cooker conversion which has a handy timer conversion chart at the bottom of the page. So the recipe cooks on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours so on a low setting this would be 5 – 6 hours. Hope that helps!
Joan WilshawWednesday 12th January 2022
Would it be ok to cook the chicken in the sauce. and freeze it, then when needed defrost add cheese and put under the grill.
How long would. I need to heat the chicken before adding the cheese.
HollyThursday 13th January 2022
Hey Joan, yes you can freeze and reheat. Allow to defrost, and heat covered in the oven or microwave until piping hot. Then add the cheese and place under a hot grill until the cheese is melted and a nice golden colour. Hope that helps!
Joan WilshawSunday 16th January 2022
Thank you Holly
Abi StarrThursday 30th September 2021
If I wanted to make the sauce in advance without doing the chicken, would it still need to cook for an hour?
LisaTuesday 5th October 2021
Hi Abi,
If you want to cook the sauce alone, I would fry off the onions and garlic in a little low calorie cooking spray for 5 minutes or so, then add the rest of the sauce ingredients and simmer on the stove top for around 15 minutes or until it reaches a consistency you like. Hope this helps!
Dawn RobinsonMonday 31st May 2021
I don’t have any hot sauce could I use BBQ sauce instead
HollyTuesday 1st June 2021
Hey Dawn, yes you could swap for bbq sauce instead of the hot sauce, hope that helps!
MikeTuesday 18th August 2020
Bought the book, tried a few recipes which have been good – want to try the hunters chicken now. The ingredients calls for ‘1tbsp hot sauce’ – anybody ideas on what ‘‘this is? Sounds a little vague – ideas please
LisaTuesday 18th August 2020
Hi Mike.
Hot sauce is a chilli condiment. There are lots of different ones available, eg Franks, Cholula, Sriracha or Tabasco. You can adjust the amount in this recipe according to how spicy you like it! Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Pamela GrahamSunday 17th May 2020
This is a fabulous recipe and great for guests. To make it easier to serve and prevent me from covering myself with tomato (frequently) I make the sauce in advance on the hob. Half goes in a dish with chicken on top as per the recipe then I take out the cooked chicken and keep it in the fridge til later or even the next day. Ready to serve with no bother, I spray a clean dish with frylite, add the chicken, top with the ‘new’ half of the sauce and cheese and pop it in the oven.
Holly LevellMonday 18th May 2020
Hi Pamela, so glad you enjoyed the Hunters Chicken recipe and thanks for your tips about making it ahead of time!
JoFriday 15th May 2020
What is pre mixed bbq seasoning please
Holly LevellMonday 18th May 2020
Hi Jo, BBQ seasoning is a pre mixed spice blend. You will find it with the rest of the spices in the supermarket. Hope that helps!
AmyThursday 27th February 2020
Is this better in the oven or slow cooker
LisaFriday 22nd May 2020
Hi Amy. This recipe works well in both the oven and the slow cooker. It’s personal preference really. Hope you enjoy it.
Jill BlairMonday 6th January 2020
Absolutely delicious, I doubled the smoked paprika because I know I like it really barbecuey 🙂 Such a fab easy recipe, this will definitely be a firm favourite.
Holly LevellFriday 15th May 2020
Hi Jill, thanks for your comment and so glad you enjoyed the Hunters Chicken!
Marlene ScottWednesday 4th December 2019
Can I do this dish in the pressure cooker
HollyFriday 16th October 2020
Hi Marlene, We have recently published an article on slow cooker and instant pot conversions which you can find here if you scroll down there is a table that gives a rough guide for how to convert recipes. These times are just a rough guide only, so please make sure that everything is cooked through before serving. If not, just cook it for a bit longer. Hope that helps!
Lee McleanFriday 19th July 2019
Made it to night for dinner. My wife thought i got the sauce from the shop lol. The book is awesome. All my family truly loved it!
Lee
Sharon FitzpatrickWednesday 6th May 2020
Hi Lee, thanks for your great comment, it’s lovely to hear that your family all loved the Hunters Chicken.
Sue DavisSunday 2nd June 2019
Thanks for the great recipe. Delicious
Neil RetallackFriday 3rd May 2019
Found this more of a tomato sauce with a hint of spicey bbq. Maybe only use tinned tomatos and more bbq powder ?
CateMonday 3rd June 2019
It is a tomatoey BBQ sauce, you can always adjust to your taste. Your suggestion should work! :|)
CateMonday 8th April 2019
Yes it is! 🙂
Catherine RoseWednesday 20th February 2019
I have defrosted this dish. How long should I rewarm it in the oven, and on what temp?
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