Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast not only is it quick and easy, but it also minimizes mess and maximizes taste. This dish combines the savory goodness of bacon with tender chicken breasts, all cooked to perfection in your air fryer. It’s perfect for busy weeknights or impressing guests without the hassle.
Need more air fryer recipes? You will love these air fryer meatballs and air fryer salmon bites.
Let’s transform the classic bacon-wrapped chicken breast into a hassle-free, air fryer masterpiece. By utilizing the air fryer, this recipe not only cuts down on cooking time but also minimizes the mess typically associated with oven or stovetop cooking.
This dish is perfect for those who crave restaurant-quality meals at home without the extensive cleanup (see also Boursin chicken and French onion chicken).
Whether you’re meal prepping for the week, hosting a casual dinner, or simply want a delicious, protein-packed meal, this Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast is versatile enough to fit any occasion.
Brushing the bason with a maple spice mixture caramelizes the outside and gives it the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and savory.
Low carb bonus! This dish is full of protein, coming it at nearly 34g per serving and it’s also lower in carbs, with only 7 net carbs per serving.
Ingredients You Need
- Chicken breast: Trimming excess fat prevents greasiness.
- Spices: smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and black pepper for a smoky and savory flavor.
- Bacon: The thinner the better. It cooks evenly and becomes crispy without overpowering the chicken’s tenderness.
- Maple syrup: Adds a touch of sweetness that caramelizes with the bacon, creating a beautiful glaze
How to Make this Air Fryer Chicken Bacon Wrapped Chicken
Here are the simple steps, with photos, to make this air fryer chicken breast wrapped in bacon. Skip to the recipe card for the printable version.
Step 1. Season the Chicken: trim any excess fat from the chicken breasts and ensure each is 4-5 ounces. Combine seasonings an drub into each side.
Step 2. Wrap the Chicken in Bacon. Wrap each seasoned chicken breast with 2 slices of thin-cut bacon, overlapping slightly to account for shrinkage during cooking. Start and end the bacon strips underneath the chicken or use toothpicks to keep them in place.
Step 3. Glaze with Maple Syrup. Brush or spoon a spice and maple mixture evenly over the bacon-wrapped chicken.
Step 4. Air Fry. Place the bacon-wrapped chicken breasts in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook at 360 for 18-20 minutes.
Expert Tips for Juicy Chicken
- The size of the chicken breasts matter: they’re all cooking at the same time, so we want to ensure they’re the same size so they cook evenly. You don’t want to end up with one piece of chicken that’s dry and one that’s still raw! Aim for 4-5ounces each. I found this is the sweet spot for this recipe because it allows the chicken to cook to the right temperature, while making sure the bacon is crispy. Use food scale and an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken (165°F).
- Use thin cut bacon: if it’s too thick it will be undercooked and fatty when the chicken breast is done.
- Overlap the pieces of bacon as much as possible while you wrap. It will shrink slightly as it cooks so this ensures there aren’t large gaps.
Side Dishes for Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breasts
Storage Tips
Allow the chicken to cool completely then store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, place it back in the air at 375°F and heat until warmed through, about 5 minutes.
You could also cut it into chunks and serve the chicken bites on top of a fresh salad.
FAQs
Chicken breast does well in the air fryer at 375°F or 400°F. The air fryer gets a little hotter than the oven, but still does well with a hotter temp and lower cook time.
A 4-5 ounce chicken breast takes 18-20 minutes to cook in the air fryer at 375°F. The same size chicken breast takes 15-18 minutes to cook at 400°F.
Yes, but be mindful that thick-cut bacon may require a longer cooking time to become crispy. Adjust the air frying time accordingly and check for desired crispiness.
Ensure the bacon is overlapped slightly and securely wrapped around the chicken. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to allow proper air circulation, which helps achieve crispiness.
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Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast
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Ingredients
- 4 (4-5 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder and kosher slat
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 8 slices of bacon thin cut
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken breast by trimming excess fat and weighing each breast to ensure they’re 4-5 ounces each. If they’re too large, slice them in half lengthwise to make them thinner. Next, mix all of the spices together in a small bowl then use half of the mixture to rub it all over the chicken breast, reserving the other half for later.
- Wrap each piece of chicken in two pieces of bacon, doing your best to overlap the bacon slightly because it will shrink while it cooks. Do your best to start and end the pieces of bacon underneath the chicken so that the weight of the chicken holds it in place as it cooks. You could also add toothpicks to the ends of each bacon strip to keep them in place.
- Pour the maple syrup into the bowl with the remaining spices then use a brush or the back of a spoon to spread the mixture over the chicken breast and bacon.
- Place the bacon wrapped chicken breast in the air fryer basket and air fry for 18-20 minutes, or until a meat thermometer reads almost 165°F. We like to pull it a few degrees before to allow for carry over cooking.
Notes
Video
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Oh my goodness! This chicken is so yummy!
I used my instapot on airfry mode at 375 F. I needed to check from time to time to avoid the burning of the bacon. I think they were done in less than 15min.
So glad you liked it!
These turned out moist& delicious. I made them per the recipe. It made a very nice light meal that took minimal time & my husband loved them!
Chicken bacon wrap sounds good but she didn’t say what temperature to air fry it at
Original air fryer temp is 375 degrees same as reheat temp?
Soo Good!!!
So simple but SO flavorful! I love that the ingredients are staples you would typically keep at home. This would make a perfect weeknight meal!
I browned the chicken breasts on both sides before baking at 425. It turned out great! We’ll definitely be adding this into our regular rotation!