Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Bacon wrapped chicken is a quick and easy go-to family meal that's real good, moist, and has the fantastic taste of bacon. Whether you are looking for a simple at home meal or something different to spice things up, this chicken recipe is perfection. This easy recipe comes together quickly and cooks in the oven, grill, or even the air fryer.

You can make this fun keto friendly recipe as a main dish, or use smaller pieces of chicken like tenders, or drumsticks, to make the perfect appetizer for your next dinner party.

Pair this bacon and chicken dish with air fryer asparagus or air fryer brussels sprouts and air fryer sweet potato fries for a complete show stopping meal. Serve with honey mustard, ranch or bbq sauce.

Ingredients

• Chicken Breast- Skinless, Boneless
• Bacon- while thick cut bacon is delicious, wrapping the chicken is best with thin sliced bacon.
• Garlic Powder
• Paprika
• Table Salt
• Dried Parsley
• Black Pepper

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine paprika, garlic powder, salt, and parsley. Mix together.

2. Pat the raw chicken breast with a paper towel to git rid of any excess water. Place the chicken breasts in a baking pan side by side.

3. Season the chicken breasts with the prepared seasoning. Season both sides for full favor.

4. Wrap the raw chicken breast with bacon. Overlap the bacon slightly to cover the chicken completely. Each breast may need 2-3 pieces of bacon depending on the size. Try to tuck bacon ends under the chicken to prevent the bacon from unrolling.

5. Cook chicken in the oven at 375*F for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165* F. You can check the thickest part of the chicken with a standard meat thermometer. The bacon will be crispy on the outside while the chicken will be moist and tender.

6. Serve the cooked chicken immediately with your favorite sides. We love making this with our air fryer brussels sprout or air fryer asparagus and a side of potatoes for a complete meal.

Hint: Want the bacon extra crispy? Cook for 30 minutes at 375*F and then bump the temperature up to 400*F for an additional 5 minutes to crisp the bacon. Make sure the chicken is cooked all the way through before consuming.

Method

• Oven- see instructions above. Cook in the oven for 30 minutes at 375*F.
• Air Fryer - Air fry the prepared chicken breast at 360* F for 9 minutes, flip and cook for another 9 minutes. Cook time will vary depending on size of chicken. It's done when the thickest internal part is 165*F.
• Grill - Heat grill to medium heat and grill prepared skinless boneless chicken breast (8-12 oz) for about 15 minutes, or until internal temperature is 165* F. The grill time will vary depending on the size of the chicken and the cut (thigh, drumstick, or breast).
• Smoker- use a green egg, or Traeger smoker to have the perfect smoked bacon taste. Follow instructions for smoking chicken based on the type of smoker you have.
• Skewers- For easy handling when grilling or using another method, slide a skewer through the center of the chicken breast and out the other side.

Substitutions

• Chicken Thighs- Instead of using chicken breasts, use thighs. Because they are smaller, the cook time will be less.
• Chicken Tenders - Substitute chicken breasts for chicken tenders. Using chicken tenders will give you smaller portions that are perfect for parties and appetizers. Or for quicker cook times.
• Turkey bacon- Instead of using bacon, use turkey bacon to wrap around the chicken. Note that turkey bacon is different in nature and will not crisp up in the same way that regular bacon does.
• Smoked bacon - Use smoked bacon for an additional flavor burst. Also look at using maple bacon for a flavor boost.
• Drumsticks- For a fun appetizer to eat with your hands type of meal, consider using drumsticks.

Variations

• Cheese- Add shredded cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese to the top of the uncooked chicken breast before wrapping with bacon.
• Brown sugar- Add 1 teaspoon of brown sugar with the other spices for a sweet taste to the chicken and bacon.
• Bbq- Make this barbecue style by topping the cooked meal with barbecue sauce.
• Jalapeño- Make it spicy by adding jalapeño to the dish. Thinly slice jalapeño and place on top of the uncooked chicken breast. Wrap the chicken and the jalapeño with the bacon for a spicy kick.
• Cream cheese- Before wrapping the chicken with bacon, spread ½ tablespoon of cream cheese to the top of the uncooked chicken. Add the jalapeño on top of the cream cheese for an ultimate chicken experience.

Equipment

• Baking Pan
• Small mixing bowl for spices

Storage

Store cooked chicken breast in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.

This meal does not stand well to freezing.

Reheat leftovers in the microwave, oven, or the air fryer. The air fryer is a fast way to reheat the chicken and keep the bacon crispy.

Recipe

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Andrea

A delicious chicken meal with crispy bacon on the outside and moist and tender chicken in the middle. This is the perfect family meal or appetizer for your next dinner party. 

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5 from 8 votes

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 40 mins

Servings 4

Calories/serving 448 kcal

Equipment

• Baking Pan

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 4 medium sized chicken breast skinless boneless
• ▢ 8-12 bacon thin or medium cut*
• ▢ 2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Paprika
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Table Salt
• ▢ 2 teaspoons Dried Parsley
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 375*F.
• In a small bowl mix together the garlic powder, paprika, salt,  dried parsley, and black pepper.
• Spray a baking ban with cooking spray. Pat the chicken breasts dry and lay them in the baking pan.
• Season both sides of the chicken with the bowl of mixed spices.
• Starting at one end of the chicken breast, wrap the chicken with bacon. Overlap the bacon slightly to completely cover the chicken. Stretch the bacon slightly and wrap the chicken tightly, without squeezing the chicken breast. When the strip of bacon ends, tuck the next piece under the already wrapped bacon and continue wrapping the chicken until it is totally covered. One chicken breast will need around 2-3 pieces of bacon. Tuck the end of the bacon in to have a clean finish. 
• Wrap each chicken breast and place in the baking pan.
• Cook for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165*F. Depending on the size of the chicken breast, you may need to cook the chicken longer. 
• Serve immediately with delicious sides!

Notes

1. Thick cut bacon is hard to maneuver around the chicken and doesn't stay in place. It also doesn't stretch as much and will require you to use more bacon than necessary. 
2. If using drumsticks, thighs, tenders, or varying sizes of chicken breast, adjust the cook time and cook until the internal temperature at the thickest part is 165*F.

Nutrition

Calories: 448kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 54gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 174mgSodium: 1136mgPotassium: 956mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 332IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg

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Food safety

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.