Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders
Description
Juicy air fryer bacon wrapped chicken tenders with a sweet-and-smoky brown sugar rub, crisped to perfection in about 20 minutes. An easy dinner, appetizer, or 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
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
Instructions
- Pat the chicken tenders dry with a paper towel. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne (if using).
- Sprinkle about half the seasoning over the chicken tenders and toss to coat.
- Wrap each tender in a spiral of bacon, tucking or securing the end with a toothpick. Roll each wrapped tender in the remaining seasoning.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (193°C). Place the tenders in a single layer in the basket, seam side down, leaving space between them.
- Air fry for 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the bacon is crispy and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Let the tenders rest for 5 minutes. Remove toothpicks and serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.
Equipment
- Parchment Paper, optional
- Cooking Spray, optional
Notes
- Bacon: Thin-cut bacon crisps best in the cooking time. Par-cook thick-cut bacon 3–4 minutes first.
- Don't overcrowd: Cook in batches so the tenders crisp instead of steaming.
- Storage: Refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 2 months. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3–5 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