Enjoy some low-carb indulgence with our Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders – where crispy meets tender.
Table of Contents
I think it’s pretty clear from this bacon wrapped chicken tenders recipe that I’m not a vegetarian. I’m all about Meatless Mondays, but when Tuesday comes around, I’m ready for some animal protein. Bacon wrapped chicken tenders sound greasy, and they kinda are given the bacon fat. However, using an air fryer cuts back the amount of oil you’ll use so it’s not as bad as you might think.
If you don’t own an air fryer yet, I heartily recommend getting one. I use it for everything from BBQ chicken wings to onion rings, and it’s super easy to use. If you know how to handle a toaster oven, an air fryer won’t be a problem. They come in different sizes, too, so you’re sure to find one to fit your countertop. I love how this clever appliance lets me enjoy “greasy” food like bacon wrapped chicken tenders but without the grease, and I bet you will too.
Are Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders (Air Fryer ) Healthy?
With only 2 grams of carbs and 32 grams of protein per serving, Keto fans may have just found their new favorite snack. As for the rest of us carb-loving eaters, I’d still argue that these bacon wrapped tenders are fairly healthy. I suppose its biggest drawbacks are the fat and sodium content. You could always use turkey bacon instead of the typical pork variety, but that would definitely change the taste and texture. It may also alter the cooking time as well.
Reducing the sodium content is easy enough, however. Bacon contains a lot of sodium in it already, so you could probably drop about ½ a teaspoon of salt from the recipe without affecting the flavor too much.
The Key to the Most Tender Chicken Tenders
You’d think with a name like “chicken tenders,” the chicken would be, well, tender. Often that’s not the case. Whether you cut the breasts yourself or buy the chicken pre-cut, I’d recommend you tenderize your meat before you do anything else. The quickest way to do this is with a meat tenderizer mallet. If you don’t own one yet, they’re not terribly expensive and are an invaluable resource for meat lovers. Given the mallet’s natural weight, tenderizing the chicken doesn’t take much. Just a few gentle pounds can help break down the muscle fibers in the chicken and also even out each piece so that they cook at the same rate.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 pounds chicken tenders approximately 16 tenders
- 16 slices of bacon
INSTRUCTIONS
Prep and Season
Get your air fryer ready and set the stage with a wire rack on a baking sheet. Mix your spices in a bowl and coat the chicken tenders for a flavor-packed base.
Wrap and Arrange
Wrap each tender with a slice of bacon, tucking the ends to secure. Place them on the rack, ensuring they have room to crisp up.
Bake to Perfection
Let the air fryer work its magic, turning the tenders golden and crispy. If you crave extra crunch, give them a quick broil, but keep a close eye on them!
Rest and Enjoy
Give your tenders a brief rest to lock in the juices, then serve up these mouthwatering morsels that are sure to delight.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
Another reason why I love this recipe is that you can easily make this ahead of time, cooked or uncooked. If you’re looking to prep the meal for a later date, simply assemble everything as instructions say and then store uncooked tenders in a container, preferably one that’s airtight. You should be good for 1 to 2 days.
But for longer storage, I’d recommend cooking the tenders first and storing them in your freezer. They’ll be good in their for a couple of months, if not longer. Keep in mind that if you put them in a container or freezer bag first, they will lose their form. I like to freeze the tenders on a baking sheet initially before the container phase. That way, they maintain their shape and are much easier to reheat.
You definitely can! But remember that meat tenderizer I mentioned? You’re definitely gonna want to use that. As far as cutting the meat, you can use a sharpened chef’s knife or poultry shears.
I suppose you could. But as you can see from the pictures, the bacon practically covers the entire tender, so the breading wouldn’t have a chance to crisp. If you decide to add breading to the tenders, wrap the bacon around the tender less tightly. Alternatively, you could slice the bacon into smaller strips so the breading has more space to adhere to the chicken and crisp up.
Unless you invite me over, I can’t give you a firm answer. What I can tell you is that the number of tenders you can fit depends on the size of your air fryer. Whatever the size, you don’t want to overcrowd the basket. Otherwise, your meat won’t cook evenly. Proper air circulation allows those yummy tenders to cook evenly and for the bacon to get crispy.
Serving Suggestions
While bacon wrapped chicken tenders make for a decent meal, I love using them as party appetizers. They’re also fun gameday snacks and go great with our air fryer buffalo cauliflower. Just make sure to have a delicious dipping sauce ready. A maple BBQ sauce would be good, or a spicy ranch would do nicely. For the mustard fans out there, I’d recommend a honey mustard dipping sauce you probably whip up in minutes.
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders (Air Fryer)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 pounds chicken tenders approximately 16 tenders
- 16 slices of bacon
Instructions
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Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and place a wire rack on top of each sheet.
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In a small bowl, combine the sea salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and thyme. Mix well.
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Lay the chicken tenders out on a clean surface. Sprinkle the spices evenly over the chicken tenders, coating them thoroughly.
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Carefully wrap each spiced chicken tender with a slice of bacon, making sure to cover as much of the chicken as possible.
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Arrange the bacon-wrapped chicken tenders on the prepared wire racks, leaving space between each one for optimal heat circulation.
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Bake in the preheated air fryer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and the bacon is crispy. I sometimes broil the tenders for an additional 1-2 minutes to get them extra crispy.
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Let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
Nutrition
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