Bacon Wrapped Chicken in the Air Fryer is an easy meal for the entire family. Whether you serve them as an appetizer or a delicious dinner for two, this is a tasty recipe. Chicken tenders are cubed, seasoned, skewered, wrapped with slices of bacon, slathered with hot honey, and air fried to golden brown deliciousness.
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MARY'S TWO CENTS
Bacon Wrapped Chicken in the Air Fryer is a splurge mainly due to the current price of bacon. We love it so much that the spluge is worth it.
THIS BACON WRAPED CHICKEN IS:
- a flavor explosion of Nashville hot chicken seasoning and hot honey!
- an easy recipe, with four main ingredients plus S & P
- a scrumptious recipe, spicy but not too hot
- juicy chicken with crispy bacon
- an easy meal for busy weeknights with the whole family
- adaptable (pick and choose your favorite spices or sauces)
- delicious eaten cold from the fridge the next day (seriously)
- one of the best air fryer chicken recipes!
INGREDIENTS
For the full recipe with quantities, see the recipe card at the end of the post.
INGREDIENT NOTES
- Chicken - Boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken tenderloins, or a chicken strip work best. You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.
- Bacon - I like to use center-cut bacon because it is shorter and each piece of bacon can be cut in half with no scraps. Regular bacon works best, but you can use a thick cut if that is what you prefer. You will need to bump the cooking time up a few minutes.
- Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning - substitute cayenne pepper or hot Hungarian paprika for a hot replacement, or chili powder for a milder flavor. You can also use onion or garlic powder to cut the heat, but still, add flavor to the chicken.
- Hot Honey - Hot honey is fabulous on bacon. If you don't have any, you can make your own by mixing cayenne pepper (to taste) with regular honey in a small bowl. If you don't want any heat, you can lightly sprinkle brown sugar on the bacon or use barbecue sauce, brushed on.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Cube and season the chicken.
Rub into each piece of chicken.
Place the chicken pieces on skewers.
Wrap the chicken with a piece of bacon.
Squeeze on the honey (or bbq sauce).
Flip and put honey on the other side.
Place in air fryer basket in a single layer.
Air fry at 325 degrees for 12 minutes.
Flip and check the internal temperature.
Put honey on the other side.
Reduce to 275 degrees for 10 minutes.
Internal temp should be 165 degrees f.
RECIPE FAQ'S
No. Bacon-wrapped chicken can be made in the oven by placing the prepared skewers on a baking sheet. Cook in a preheated 350-degree oven until the top surface becomes golden brown. Flip the skewers and cook an additional few minutes until browned. When the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees, the chicken is done.
Bacon wrapped around meat accomplished two things: it adds fat and flavor. For this to happen the bacon needs to fully render during the cooking process.
MORE TASTY CHICKEN RECIPES
EQUIPMENT
- Air Fryer (I used the 4-quart classic PowerXL air fryer.)
- Tongs
- Meat thermometer or instant-read thermometer
- Wooden skewers
FOOD STORAGE TIPS
Wrap the chicken in plastic wrap then place it in an airtight container. Refrigerate for no more than 3 days. I have not tested freezing it, but I assume it would work.
Equipment
- Air Fryer (I used the 4-quart classic PowerXL air fryer.)
- Tongs
- Meat thermometer or instant-read thermometer
- wooden skewers
Ingredients
- Olive oil spray
- 4 Chicken breast tenders
- 1 teaspoon Nashville hot chicken seasoning or your choice of seasoning
- 6 strips Bacon
- 2 tablespoons Hot honey or sauce of your choice
Instructions
- Lightly spray the tray of the air fryer with olive oil spray or regular non-stick spray.
- Cube chicken and pat dry with a paper towel. Put the chicken on a plate. Sprinkle the chicken with the seasoning and rub it in well to each piece of chicken.
- Place the chicken pieces on skewers. Lay them back down on the plate.
- Trim the ends from a slice of bacon leaving a straight piece long enough to wrap around and slightly overlap the chicken. Cut enough pieces of bacon for the number of chicken pieces you have.
- Wrap the chicken cubes with a piece of bacon. Pull it tight and overlap a bit. Place down on the plate seam side down.
- Squeeze on the honey (or bbq sauce) and brush it evenly. Flip and do the same on the other side.
- Place, with the bacon strip seam side down, in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air fry at 325 degrees for 12 minutes.
- Flip and check the internal temperature. Put honey on this side.
- Reduce air fryer temperature to 275 degrees and air fry for 8-10 minutes.
- Check the internal temperature. Chicken is done when the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees.
Nicole says
I’ve never turned down a bacon recipe and I don’t start now! This bacon wrapped chicken was absolutely amazing. Instead of Nashville hot chicken seasoning (I didn’t have time to go to the store), I used a black garlic pepper seasoning by Badia, and they were perfect!
Nora says
This chicken wrapped in bacon is a dream! And great that it goes so well with the Air fryer! The family was thrilled!
Mary says
Thanks!
Nancy says
These Bacon Wrapped Chicken is really juicy. I love how the bacons flavours the chicken too. Delicious
Mary says
Thank you. I am sort of enamored with hot honey at the moment and I love the heat it adds to the chicken without being over the top.