Baked Chicken With Bacon Wrapped

Baked chicken with bacon wrapped inside is the perfect way to cook boneless skinless chicken breasts without leaving you with a dried out or over cooked meal. You cannot only cook the chicken in this style but also use it as a stuffing for chicken rollups, stir-fry recipes, or casseroles.

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken in the Oven

Chicken wrapped in bacon… Goes well with corn, probably other vegetables or bread, too.

Recipe Summary

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 25 mins

Total: 40 mins

Servings: 4

Yield: 4 chicken breasts

Ingredients

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Original recipe yields 4 servingsIngredient Checklist

• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• 4 (4 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 (16 ounce) package bacon
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Instructions Checklist

• Step 1Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Step 2Mix brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, salt, and onion powder together in a small bowl. Rub 1/2 of the spice mix over chicken breasts.
• Step 3Wrap each breast with 2 to 4 slices of bacon, depending on size. Place in a baking dish and sprinkle remaining spice mix over top.
• Step 4Bake in the preheated oven until bacon is crispy and chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 25 to 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Step 5Serve topped with parsley.

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Anything wrapped in bacon is truly better! Make this bacon wrapped chicken breast for a flavorful meal idea.

Why Make Bacon Wrapped Chicken?

This bacon wrapped chicken recipe is such a fun and scrumptious main meal. Eat it on its own next to grilled potatoes or top your favorite salad with it.

• High-Protein: this bacon wrapped chicken packs in 45g protein per serving.
• Low-Carb: per serving, there are only 3g carbs.
• Gluten-Free: both bacon and chicken are naturally gluten-free.
• Ready in less than an hour: Dinner in less than an hour. Heck yes!

What You Need

I love chicken recipes that call for minimal ingredients that you probably already have on hand. This recipe calls for 3 basic things.

• Chicken breast: you need around 2-lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken breast. Just make sure you get around 4 medium breasts (around 6-oz. each).
• Bacon: when shopping for the bacon, look for regular-cut bacon and avoid thick-cut. Read more about why below.
• Seasoning: a homemade spice blend is going to add great flavor to this bacon wrapped chicken.

Chicken seasoning

If you have our homemade chicken seasoning on hand, you’re more than welcome to use that. Otherwise, here’s the blend we used in this recipe:

• Garlic powder
• Brown sugar
• Italian seasoning
• Paprika
• Salt
• Pepper

ALL ABOUT THE BACON

You may love that thick oven-baked bacon, but it is important that you use regular-cut bacon for this recipe.

Why?

Thicker bacon will take longer to fully cook and crisp up in the oven and we found that regular-cut bacon cooks the best alongside the chicken breast.

So, just make sure you avoid thick-cut bacon and all will be well with your bacon wrapped chicken!

How to Make Bacon Wrapped Chicken (3-steps!)

1. Season Chicken: season chicken breast on both sides with homemade chicken seasoning.
2. Wrap Chicken: wrap each chicken breast with 2-3 pieces of bacon. Start on one end and wrap the bacon towards the other.
3. Place on rack: line a baking sheet with tin foil and then place a metal baking rack on top. Transfer bacaon wrapped chicken ton top of the rack.
4. Bake: bake at 400ºF for around 25 minutes. Then, turn the heat up to 450ºF and bake for another 5-10 minutes to crisp up the bacon. The internal temperature of the chicken should be at least 165ºF.

Our #1 Tip

So, how do you get crispy bacon on the outside, but super tender chicken on the inside? Our #1 tip is a metal baking rack!

By placing the chicken breast on top of a rack, you allow for the bacon grease to drip off the chicken and onto the bottom of the baking sheet. If the chicken was sitting in the grease, the bacon would have a hard time crisping up.

So, make sure to first line your baking sheet with tin foil (for easy clean up) and then place a metal baking rack on top.

Meal Ideas

Looking for a few sides to complete your back wrapped chicken breast meal? Here ares some yummy ideas for you!

Baked Potato in Foil: Whether you’re hoping to make a grilled baked potato in foil or oven baked potatoes in foil, we’ll teach you how to make a perfect baked potato every time!

Instant Pot Baked Beans: Looking for a baked beans recipe that doesn’t take the whole day to make? These Instant Pot baked beans are flavorful, easy to make, and are ready in under an hour! 

Strawberry Quinoa Salad: This is the most delicious Strawberry Quinoa Salad made with massaged kale, fresh strawberries, quinoa, cucumber, feta cheese, and a delicious creamy balsamic dressing.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts: A roasted Brussels sprouts recipe that will get you crispy, caramelized Brussels sprouts every time!

Superfood Detox Salad: The superfood salad of all superfood salads is here! Packed with shaved Brussels sprouts, kale, blueberries, and nuts and seeds with a ginger turmeric dressing, this Superfood Detox Salad will please a crowd. Make this Superfood Detox Salad today!

Storage

Let bacon wrapped chicken breasts cool completely. Then, transfer into an airtight container and seal. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.

To reheat: you can either reheat the chicken in the microwave on high for 90 seconds. Or, to get crispier bacon, we suggest reheating in a nonstick skillet or cast iron over medium heat.

MORE OF OUR FAVORITE…

Chicken and Bacon Recipes

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast

Bacon wrapped chicken is seasoned chicken breasts wrapped in bacon and then baked at high heat for crispy bacon on the outside and tender chicken breast on the inside.

Prep:15 minutes

Cook:30 minutes

Total:45 minutes

FAT 21

CARBS 3

PROTEIN 35

YIELD: 41x2x3x

INGREDIENTS

• 4 6-oz. boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoon brown sugar or coconut sugar
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
• 8-12 pieces bacon medium cut*

INSTRUCTIONS 

• First, preheat the oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with tin foil. Place a wire rack on top and set it aside.
• Combine all of the spices into a small bowl and mix.
• Then, season each chicken breast with 1 teaspoon of chicken seasoning, making sure to get both sides. Save the remaining spices for later.
• Next, wrap each chicken breast with 2 to 3 pieces of bacon depending on how big they are. Start at one end and move to the other. Transfer each bacon wrapped chicken breast to the wire rack.
• Sprinkle the tops of the chicken breasts with the remaining seasoning.
• Bake chicken breasts at 400ºF for 25 minutes. Then, turn the heat up to 450ºF and bake for 5-10 more until the bacon is crispy. The internal temperature of the chicken should be at least 165ºF and the bacon should be fully cooked.

TIPS & NOTES

• Bacon: make sure NOT to use thick-cut bacon or it will not crisp up like it you want it to.
• Sweet and Savory: for a sweet and savory flavor, sprinkle a little brown sugar on top of each chicken breast before baking.

Juicy Bacon-Wrapped Chicken

Attach the words “bacon-wrapped” to just about any food, and I’m in. I have the salty strips to thank for helping me fall in love with Brussels sprouts, and they even earned me a standing ovation at the holiday table when I draped a braided bacon blanket over the turkey.

It didn’t take long for me to apply the same strategy to chicken breasts. The bacon locks in the chicken’s natural juices while adding flavorful fat to an easy (yet impressive!) weeknight meal. Here’s how to make the best bacon-wrapped chicken.

What Type of Chicken Is Best for Bacon-Wrapped Chicken?

Boneless, skinless chicken breast is best for this recipe. Covering the chicken breasts with strips of bacon (regular, not thick-cut), helps season the meat while slowly basting them in the bacon fat as they cook. No more bland and boring chicken!

How Do I Check the Chicken for Doneness?

Temperature, not the change in color of the meat or the clarity of the juices, is the most reliable way to determine whether your chicken dinner has been properly cooked. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of chicken breast for the most accurate reading. The temperature of the chicken must reach 165°F before serving.

What Should I Serve with Bacon-Wrapped Chicken?

Keep things simple by serving with crispy air-fried broccoli or garlicky sautéed spinach. Add toasted Hawaiian rolls with salted butter or creamy mashed cauliflower to the plate and the meal is complete.

Slice leftover bacon-wrapped chicken and layer onto hoagie rolls with slices of cheese and sautéed peppers and onions. Slide under a broiler for the easiest chicken melt ever.

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Recipe

Bacon is the best thing to ever happen to boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

YIELDServes 4

PREP TIME12 minutes to 15 minutes

COOK TIME32 minutes to 35 minutesShow Nutrition

INGREDIENTS

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for serving
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds total)
• 12 slices bacon (not thick-cut, about 14 ounces), divided

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Arrange a rack in the top third of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2. Place 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon dry mustard, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a small bowl and stir to combine. Pat 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts dry with a paper towel, then sprinkle all over with the spice mixture.
3. Wrap each chicken breast with 3 slices bacon: Start at one end and wrap tightly around the chicken, leaving no gaps but not overlapping the bacon except when starting to wrap with the next slice. Trim off any excess bacon. Place the chicken breasts seam-side down on the baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart.
4. Bake until the bacon is browned and the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F, 32 to 35 minutes. If desired, switch the oven to broil, and broil for 1 to 2 minutes for crispier bacon. Serve immediately with more black pepper.

RECIPE NOTES

Make ahead: The chicken can be seasoned, wrapped, and refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days before cooking.

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.