Air-Fried Bacon-Wrapped Chicken: Quick, Easy, Delicious!

Bacon-wrapped chicken is a delicious and easy meal to make in an air fryer. It's a great option for a quick dinner that's packed with protein and flavour. The air fryer ensures the bacon gets crispy and delicious, making it a perfect complement to the juicy chicken.

To make bacon-wrapped chicken in an air fryer, you'll need chicken breasts, bacon, and your choice of seasonings. You can also get creative with the fillings, such as cheese and asparagus, or avocado and bacon. The key to success is to ensure the chicken breasts are an even thickness and that the bacon is wrapped securely around them.

So, if you're looking for a tasty and hassle-free meal, give air fryer bacon-wrapped chicken a try!

How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Chicken in an Air Fryer

Choosing the right chicken

Type of Chicken:

• Boneless and skinless chicken breasts are the most commonly used cut for this dish. They provide a lean base for the bacon wrapping and are easy to cook evenly.
• Alternatively, you can use chicken thighs, which some people find more flavourful and juicy. However, they have a higher fat content and may require a longer cooking time.

Size of Chicken Breasts:

• The cooking time will depend on the size of your chicken breasts. Aim for a uniform size so they cook evenly.
• Small breasts (5-7 oz) will take around 14 minutes to cook.
• Medium breasts (8-9 oz) will take around 16 minutes.
• Large breasts (10 oz or more) will take around 18 minutes.

Fresh or Frozen:

• It is recommended to use fresh chicken breasts for this recipe. Frozen chicken may not cook evenly and can affect the texture of the final dish.
• If you're short on time, you can use frozen chicken breasts, but be sure to thaw them completely before wrapping them in bacon and cooking.

Brining:

• Brining the chicken before cooking can help improve its texture and flavour. It involves salting the meat and letting it rest before cooking.
• You can use a wet brine (saltwater solution) or a dry brine (sprinkling with salt). A dry brine is less messy and still effective.
• Brining for at least 30 minutes can make a noticeable difference in the juiciness and flavour of the chicken.

Pounding:

• To ensure even cooking, you can lightly pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness.
• Place the chicken on a cutting board and cover it with plastic wrap. Use a rolling pin, meat mallet, or your palm to gently pound it.

Remember, the right chicken will be the foundation of your bacon-wrapped masterpiece, so choose wisely!

Preparing the bacon

Firstly, select the right type of bacon. Thin-cut bacon is generally recommended for this recipe, as it cooks more evenly and crisps up nicely without overcooking the chicken. If you opt for chicken tenders, ensure you use thin-cut bacon as they cook faster.

Next, cut the bacon slices in half or use two slices per chicken breast. You want to ensure you have enough bacon to wrap around the chicken securely. Start by placing the bacon on a clean and dry surface. If desired, you can season the bacon with a dry rub of spices such as smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. This step adds extra flavour to your dish.

Now, it's time to wrap the chicken. Take each chicken breast and place it on the bacon. Start wrapping the bacon around the chicken, slightly overlapping the bacon as it will shrink during cooking. Try to keep the ends of the bacon underneath the chicken breast to hold it in place during cooking. You can also use toothpicks to secure the bacon in place, just remember to remove them before serving.

Once your chicken is securely wrapped, it's almost ready for the air fryer. Brush the outside of the bacon with a sweet glaze, such as maple syrup, to add flavour and help it caramelize. Alternatively, you can sprinkle some brown sugar on top of the bacon for a similar effect.

Finally, place your bacon-wrapped chicken in the air fryer, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overlapping. Depending on your air fryer settings and the size of the chicken breasts, cook for 15-20 minutes at 370-400°F, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

And that's it! You're now ready to enjoy your delicious bacon-wrapped chicken cooked to perfection in the air fryer.

Seasoning and marinating

Firstly, you will need to prepare the chicken breasts by trimming any excess fat and ensuring they are all a similar size. This is important because you want the chicken to cook evenly, so they should ideally be between 4 and 5 ounces each. If you have larger chicken breasts, you can slice them in half lengthwise to make them thinner.

Next, it's time to make the seasoning mix. You can use a variety of spices, such as smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix these spices together in a small bowl; you can also add some olive oil or avocado oil to create a rub. Generously coat the chicken breasts with the seasoning mix, reserving some for later if you are using it to make a glaze. You can also add other seasonings of your choice, such as lemon-pepper, garlic powder, thyme, or minced garlic.

At this point, you can cover the chicken and let it marinate in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes to enhance the flavour even more. This step is optional but recommended if you want to add some extra flavour to your dish.

After the chicken has marinated, it's time to wrap it in bacon. You will need two pieces of bacon for each chicken breast. Overlap the bacon slightly, as it will shrink during cooking. Try to start and end the pieces of bacon underneath the chicken so that they stay in place while cooking. You can also use toothpicks to secure the ends of the bacon strips if needed.

Finally, if you are making a glaze, mix the reserved spices with maple syrup or another sweet ingredient of your choice. Brush this mixture over the chicken and bacon before placing them in the air fryer.

Now your chicken is ready to be cooked! Remember to cook it until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure it is cooked safely.

Cooking times and temperatures

The cooking temperature and time for bacon-wrapped chicken in an air fryer vary depending on the recipe and the size of the chicken breasts. However, the general cooking instructions are as follows:

Preheat your air fryer to 350-400°F. Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray or olive oil spray. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper or other spices, such as smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Wrap each chicken breast with 2-3 slices of bacon, trying to keep the ends of the bacon underneath the chicken. Place the wrapped chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer.

Air fry the chicken for 15 minutes at 400°F, then turn down the temperature to 370-375°F and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. For an extra crispy bacon finish, increase the temperature to 400°F and cook for one more minute.

Let the chicken rest for about five minutes before slicing. This will keep the juices from running out, keeping all the flavour inside.

Serving suggestions

There are several ways to serve bacon-wrapped chicken. Here are some ideas:

Salads

You can cut the chicken into chunks and serve them on top of a fresh salad. For the salad, you can use mixed greens, spinach, or romaine, and add toppings like avocado, tomatoes, shallots, and cucumbers. You can also coat the salad with a simple vinaigrette.

Sides

You can serve the chicken with any of the following sides:

• Avocado Quinoa Salad
• Roasted Green Beans with Caramelized Onions
• Grilled Zucchini
• Lemon-Parsley Potatoes
• Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
• BBQ Baked Beans
• Air fryer asparagus
• Air fryer butternut squash
• Cauliflower mashed potatoes
• Roasted broccoli and carrots
• Garlic roasted mini peppers
• Creamy Cucumber Radish salad
• Roasted vegetables, like Brussels sprouts and Baked sweet potatoes
• Crispy French fries
• Homemade Onion rings

Sauces

You can also serve the chicken with a dipping sauce, such as barbecue sauce or honey mustard.

Frequently asked questions