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Air Fryer Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken (Cheesy & Crispy)

3.45 from 9 votes
Author: Laurie Fleming
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings

Description

Every other air fryer bacon wrapped chicken recipe has the same dirty secret — the outer bacon crisps up gorgeous, but the inner layer hugging the chicken stays pale and chewy. This one fixes it with a 60-second microwave pre-crisp trick that turns out juicy, cheese-stuffed chicken thighs wrapped in shatteringly crisp bacon on every side, ready in 25 minutes flat.

Ingredients 

Chicken

  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, or boneless, skinless chicken tenders (about 1.5 lb)
  • 12 slices regular-cut bacon, not thick-cut
  • 6 1-inch cubes cheese, — Colby Jack, sharp cheddar, or pepper jack

Seasoning

  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp brown sugar, skip for keto
  • ¾ tsp garlic powder
  • ¾ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp cayenne, optional

Optional

  • 2 Tbsp BBQ sauce, last 2 min of cooking
  • Chopped parsley or chives for serving

Instructions

  • Pre-crisp the bacon: Lay 12 slices of bacon on a paper-towel-lined plate. Microwave 60 seconds. Bacon should be slightly cooked but still flexible. Set aside.
  • Season: Mix all seasoning ingredients in a small bowl. Pat chicken thighs dry. Sprinkle two-thirds of the seasoning over both sides of the thighs, pressing in. Reserve the rest.
  • Stuff and wrap: Place a cheese cube in the center of each thigh. Fold chicken around cheese. Wrap each bundle with 2 slices of pre-crisped bacon, tucking ends underneath. Sprinkle with reserved seasoning.
  • Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
  • Cook: Place bundles seam-side down in a single layer with space between. Air fry at 400°F for 8 minutes. Flip with tongs. Air fry 7 more minutes until internal temp reads 165°F and bacon is deep golden brown.
  • Optional glaze: Brush with BBQ sauce in the last 2 minutes of cooking.
  • Rest 3 minutes before serving. Remove toothpicks. Sprinkle with parsley or chives.

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Cooking Spray
  • Parchment Paper, optional

Notes

  • Pre-crisping the bacon is the difference between crispy and chewy. Don't skip.
  • Use regular-cut bacon. Thick-cut won't crisp in time.
  • Cook in batches if your air fryer is under 5 quarts.
  • Reheat leftovers in the air fryer at 375°F for 4 minutes. Do not microwave.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 335kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 28gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 137mgSodium: 686mgPotassium: 387mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 250IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg