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

Chicken wrapped in bacon cooked in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and delicious meal. The bacon adds flavour and moisture to the chicken, and the air fryer ensures the dish is cooked evenly and efficiently. This recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner or a dinner party with friends.

Chicken preparation

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients:

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Bacon (preferably thin-cut)
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Other seasonings of your choice (e.g. smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder)
• Maple syrup (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide

• Prepare the chicken breasts by trimming any excess fat and ensuring they are of similar size (4-5 ounces each). This step is important to ensure even cooking.
• Mix your chosen seasonings in a small bowl and rub the mixture generously over the chicken breasts. You can also add toothpicks to the ends of each bacon strip to keep them in place.
• Wrap each chicken breast with 2-3 slices of bacon, trying to overlap the bacon slightly and keep the ends underneath the chicken. The bacon will shrink during cooking, so it's important to have some overlap.
• If desired, brush the outside of the bacon with maple syrup to add flavor and caramelization.
• Place the bacon-wrapped chicken breasts into the air fryer basket in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the basket.
• Set the air fryer to 375-400°F and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F.
• Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps retain moisture and keeps the juices from running out.

Bacon wrapping

Choosing the Chicken

For this recipe, you'll want to use skinless, boneless chicken breasts. You can either buy them pre-cut into bite-sized pieces or cut them yourself. If you're cutting them yourself, aim for pieces that are about one inch thick and two to three inches in length.

Marinating the Chicken

Before wrapping the chicken in bacon, you can marinate it in a mixture of oil and spices. For the spices, you can use salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.

Wrapping the Chicken

When wrapping the chicken in bacon, use thin-cut bacon for the best results. You'll need about two pieces of bacon for each piece of chicken. Overlap the bacon slightly as you wrap, as it will shrink during cooking. Try to start and end the pieces of bacon underneath the chicken, so the weight of the chicken holds them in place. You can also use toothpicks to secure the bacon.

Glazing the Bacon (Optional)

For a sweet glaze, brush the outside of the bacon with maple syrup. This will add flavour and caramelise the bacon without affecting your blood sugar levels.

Cooking the Bacon-Wrapped Chicken

Preheat your air fryer to between 375-400°F and spray the basket with non-stick cooking spray or olive oil spray. Place the bacon-wrapped chicken in a single layer in the basket, leaving a little space between each piece.

Cook for 15 minutes, then turn down the temperature to 370-400°F and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Let the chicken rest for about five minutes before serving.

Serving Suggestions

This bacon-wrapped chicken goes well with a variety of sides, including roasted vegetables, baked potatoes, BBQ baked beans, and salads. For dipping sauces, try barbecue sauce, honey mustard, or homemade chipotle sauce.

Air fryer settings

To make chicken wrapped in bacon in an air fryer, you will need to preheat your air fryer to a high temperature. The majority of sources recommend preheating to 400°F, although one source suggests 350°F.

Once preheated, you should cook the chicken for around 15 minutes at this temperature, before lowering the temperature to 370°F-400°F for a further 10-15 minutes. The chicken is cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

One source suggests cooking the chicken at 380°F for six minutes on each side, before increasing the temperature to 400°F for one minute to brown the bacon.

Cooking times and temperatures

When cooking chicken wrapped in bacon in an air fryer, the temperature and timing can vary depending on the size of your chicken breasts and the type of bacon used.

For thicker chicken breasts, you may need to slice them in half lengthwise to ensure even cooking. If you are using thin-cut bacon, it is also advisable to overlap the pieces slightly when wrapping, as the bacon will shrink during cooking. If you are using regular or thick-cut bacon, you may need to cook the chicken for longer to ensure the bacon is crispy.

As a general guide, you should:

• Preheat your air fryer to between 350 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Cook the chicken for around 15 minutes at this temperature, then turn the breasts over.
• Lower the temperature to between 370 and 380 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for a further 10-15 minutes.
• Check that the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If not, continue cooking until it reaches this temperature.

Some recipes suggest increasing the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for the final minute of cooking to brown the bacon. It is also recommended that you let the chicken rest for around five minutes before serving to prevent the juices from running out.

Serving suggestions

This bacon-wrapped chicken dish pairs well with a variety of sides, including:

• Salads: You can serve the chicken on a bed of mixed greens, spinach, or romaine lettuce, topped with your favourite ingredients like avocado, tomatoes, shallots, and cucumbers, and dressed with a simple vinaigrette.
• Avocado Quinoa Salad
• Roasted Green Beans with Caramelized Onions
• Grilled Zucchini
• Lemon-Parsley Potatoes
• Air Fryer Baked Potatoes and BBQ Baked Beans
• Roasted broccoli and carrots
• Garlic roasted mini peppers
• Cauliflower mashed potatoes
• Air fryer asparagus
• Air fryer butternut squash
• Air fryer zucchini chips
• Green beans
• Asparagus spears
• Any other type of vegetable
• Dipping sauces like BBQ sauce or honey mustard

Frequently asked questions