Thai Chicken & Bacon Flatbread

A Recipe Worth Making

I love a recipe that sounds a little unexpected but comes together perfectly. This Thai Chicken & Bacon Flatbread is exactly that. Crispy bacon, savory chicken, sharp white cheddar, and a creamy peanut sauce. All are piled onto a crispy flatbread and finished with fresh cilantro and green onions. A flavor combination you’ll be thinking about long after the last bite.

I have been thinking about a Thai flatbread that Mr. Tipsy and I had at Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace at Disney’s Polynesian Resort for well over a year. Their version was served on a long, narrow flatbread. The combination of juicy chicken, salty bacon, creamy peanut sauce, crisp green onions, and fresh cilantro was so memorable that I knew I had to recreate it at home.

The best part about this recipe is that you can build it on just about any flatbread you have on hand. I used thin Lebanese-style pitas. These bake up almost like a cracker crust. Naan, a traditional flatbread, pizza dough, or even a large burrito tortilla would work beautifully because these flavors are truly the star of the show.

The Base – Lebanese Pita

I chose Lebanese pita bread for this recipe because it is incredibly thin, soft, and versatile. Unlike the thicker pocket-style pitas many people are familiar with. Lebanese pita bakes up very quickly and becomes wonderfully crisp. It is almost like a cracker crust.

Because the pita cooks so fast, I make sure the chicken and bacon are fully cooked before assembling the flatbread. This allows the short baking time to focus on crisping the crust, warming the toppings, bubbling the peanut sauce, and melting the cheese without overcooking anything. The result is a light, crispy flatbread that lets all of the flavors shine.

If Using Something Else For The Base

One of the things I love most about this recipe is how versatile the base can be. I used Lebanese pita bread because it bakes up wonderfully thin and crispy. Naan bread would make a heartier flatbread with a chewy texture. A premade pizza crust creates more of a traditional flatbread pizza. Turano Bread makes something called a Pinsa that would also be great.

You could also use lavash bread for an extra crispy result, a flour tortilla for a quick personal-sized flatbread, or even crescent roll dough if you want something a little richer and more indulgent. No matter what you choose, just remember to adjust the baking time based on the thickness of your crust since the toppings are already cooked and you’re simply heating everything through and melting the cheese.

I use a flatbread that I get from Aldi to make this delicious blue cheese and pepperoni flatbread. This flatbread would also be great for this recipe. It is very versatile and quite affordable.

It Takes Two

This recipe makes about two flatbreads, depending on the size and type of flatbread you use. It is also a great meal-prep recipe because you can make the peanut sauce, cook the bacon, and prepare the chicken ahead of time. Then, when you’re ready for dinner, all you have to do is assemble the flatbreads and bake them for a quick and easy weeknight meal that feels a little more special than your average pizza night.

No Peanuts, No Problem

If you have a peanut allergy, sunflower seed butter is probably the closest substitute and works beautifully in this recipe. It has a similar creamy texture and nutty flavor, and most people would never know the difference once it is mixed with the soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, garlic, and ginger.

You could also use tahini, which is made from sesame seeds, for a slightly more savory version of the sauce. Cashew butter is another excellent option for those who can have tree nuts, as it creates a rich, creamy sauce that pairs perfectly with the chicken and bacon.

If you don’t need the sauce to mimic peanut sauce exactly, you could skip the nut butter altogether and make a simple Asian-inspired drizzle using soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, garlic, ginger, and a little mayonnaise. It won’t have the same richness as the peanut sauce, but it still creates a delicious flatbread with all of the same sweet, savory, and spicy flavors. *I am not an expert on allergies so please make sure you know the food allergies a person may have before making a substitution I suggest.

Make It Your Own

One of the great things about this flatbread is that you can really make it your own with different toppings. I love it with the fresh cilantro and green onions. Other options are thinly shaved carrots. These would add a wonderful crunch and a touch of sweetness. Very thinly sliced cucumber is another great option. Especially added after baking, because it adds a cool, refreshing contrast to the warm flatbread.

Other delicious toppings include shredded red cabbage, bean sprouts, thinly sliced red onion, sliced jalapeños, chopped peanuts if allergies are not a concern. Fresh mint leaves, or even a squeeze of fresh lime juice right before serving. For a little extra heat, a drizzle of sriracha or chili crisp would be fantastic. If you like a touch of sweetness, a few pieces of diced pineapple would pair surprisingly well with the smoky bacon and savory chicken.

Any Cheese You Please

For the cheese, I used a sharp white cheddar. I thought was absolutely perfect with the savory chicken and bacon and the rich peanut sauce. If you prefer something a little more mild, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or even a smoked Gouda would all be delicious choices. These would melt beautifully while still allowing the other flavors to shine.\