Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders
Description
Juicy chicken tenders wrapped in crispy bacon with a sweet-smoky brown sugar rub, air fried in 15 minutes. An easy dinner, appetizer, or high-protein snack.
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken tenders, or boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into strips
- 8 slices bacon, regular/thin-cut
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
Instructions
- Pat the chicken tenders dry. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne (if using).
- Sprinkle half of the seasoning over the chicken and toss to coat.
- Wrap each tender in a spiral of bacon, tucking the end under or securing it with a toothpick. Roll each wrapped tender in the remaining seasoning.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (193°C). Arrange the tenders seam side down in a single layer, leaving space between them.
- Air fry for 12 to 15 minutes, flipping halfway, until the bacon is crisp and the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Rest for 5 minutes. Remove the toothpicks and serve warm with dipping sauce.
Equipment
- Instant-read meat thermometer
- Toothpicks
- Perforated parchment liners (optional)
Notes
- Bacon: Thin-cut crisps best in the cook time. Par-cook thick-cut bacon for 3 to 4 minutes first.
- Batches: Cook in a single layer so the bacon crisps instead of steaming.
- Storage: Refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 2 months. Reheat at 350°F for 3 to 5 minutes.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 340kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 30gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 102mgSodium: 716mgPotassium: 539mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 349IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg