My husband is a great cook.
In our previous life, when we both worked full-time and we were child-free, we’d make most of our evening meals together. He’d grill some form of meat while I whipped up the side dishes, and we’d do the dishes together.
Now those types of collaborations only happen on the weekends, which is when he introduced me to the taste sensation of Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders.
Chicken tenderloin recipes are a hit around here. They are always easy, and chicken tenderloin lends itself to so many easy chicken dinners.
We made ours on our beloved Traeger wood-fired grill (affiliate link), but if you don’t have the equipment to make Traeger chicken tenders, your bacon-wrapped chicken strips can be grilled over indirect heat on a traditional grill or popped in the oven at 350 degrees for about 25-30 minutes.
Bacon recipes are a hit, too. We cook with bacon quite a bit. If you do have a wood pellet smoker, you have to try this Traeger Smoked Bacon recipe!
How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders
1 lb chicken tenders (aprox 10 chicken tenders)
10 strips bacon
½ tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp black pepper
½ to 1 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 TBSP chili powder
Preheat smoker (or grill or oven) to 350 degrees.
In a bowl, mix together Italian seasoning, pepper, salt, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.Sprinkle mixture evenly over all sides of the chicken tenders, covering them completely in spices.
Wrap a slice of bacon around each tender. Tuck in the ends.
Mix brown sugar and chili powder together, and sprinkle generously over the bacon-wrapped chicken on all sides. Press the brown sugar mixture onto the chicken so it doesn’t come off.
Place bacon-wrapped chicken on smoker and cook with lid closed for about 30 minutes, or until chicken and bacon are done.
If desired, place chicken on a cookie sheet and broil for a few minutes to crisp up the bacon.
These Brown Sugar Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders are as moist and delicious as they look. Everyone loved them, and there were zero leftovers. The spices are perfect, adding to the flavor of the chicken and bacon without overpowering it.
If you like your bacon extra crispy, broil your finished product for a few minutes to your desired crispness (we didn’t do that this time).
We completed this delicious dinner with rice and sauteed fresh green beans. YUM!
Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders
These Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders are as moist and delicious as they look!
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenders (aprox 10 chicken tenders)
- 10 strips bacon
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ to 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 TBSP chili powder
Instructions
Preheat smoker (or grill or oven) to 350 degrees.
In a bowl, mix together Italian seasoning, pepper, salt, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.
Sprinkle mixture evenly over all sides of the chicken tenders, covering them completely in spices.
Wrap a slice of bacon around each tender. Tuck in the ends.
Mix brown sugar and chili powder together, and sprinkle generously over the bacon-wrapped chicken on all sides.
Press the brown sugar mixture onto the chicken so it doesn't come off.
Place bacon-wrapped chicken on smoker and cook with lid closed for about 30 minutes, or until chicken and bacon are done.
If desired, place chicken on a cookie sheet and broil for a few minutes to crisp up the bacon.
Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders recipe modified from Divas Can Cook.
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Very flavorful and tender yum! It didn’t look as good as picture,but I made mine in the oven that might be why
Hey how long did you cook yours in the oven
She said 30/35 minutes for all type of cookers. Broil to brown if desired.
Can these possibly be made ahead and refrigerated overnight to be reheated in the oven for a pot luck at church
If you make them crisp and reheat that doesn’t make them soggy like microwave then they will reheat well. I used air fryer on low.
It says 30 minutes. If you want crispy bacon broil for a few minutes.
If you bake these in oven at 350 degrees, it will take FOREVER. You must broil them. Best to have broil pan so chicken not sitting in bacon grease. 350 degrees in oven for 20 minutes, outrageous lie! Disappointed that “creator” of this recipe documented this. Her grill method may work, but baking will have your family eating 2 hours later than planned.
You must have had awfully thick chicken. Mine turned out perfect x 2 and had my guests begging for the recipe.
I’ve cooked it in less than 30 mins boy you are a very hostile person to call someone a liar. Wow!!!
It’s like a hurricane outside today so mine will have to be made in the oven too which is a huge disappointment. I’m still hoping the flavor will be good.
This is family favorite! They request it at least once a week. Thank you for sharing
Nice. I would add a bit of honey at the later part to glaze and give it a finishing touch!
Best grilled chicken ever.. flavorful and moist!! Excellent recipe!!
I did mine in the oven and it was Soooo GOOD!!! This recipe is recommended to anyone who’s just “thinking” about it… GREAT FOOD! Thank you for posting this recipe for all to enjoy.
How long did you cook it in the oven?
Hi Samantha: I cook mine between 35-45 minutes. They’re so good they’ve become a regular on the dinner menu!
At what temperature in the oven? I’m using tenders so I don’t want them to get dry.
I made this for my family and they went crazy over it !! They loved it ! We are going camping next week and my family asked if week can have this for one of our dinners , I can’t wait to cook it again it was so delicious!
I tripled the recipe and baked them in the oven! They were delicious and very moist! I had guests for dinner and there were none left! Broiling them for a few minutes at the end to crisp up the bacon a little was the perfect final touch! Definitely a recipe that will be made again and again! Thank you for sharing!!
What was your oven temperature and how long. Thanks
Tried this and it was a hit, even the leftovers went quick!
For those that cooked it in the oven, dud ya’ll cover it?
Yes I did but crisp up the bacon 2 min on broil at the end
Curious if this should be covered in foil if baked in the oven? And which is best— 25-30 minutes like the recipe says or 35-45 min like one of the comments?
It doesn’t brown on the grille?
Can I make these a day ahead of time and leave in fridge before grilling? Thank you!
I made these in my air fryer on 350 for a total of 20 minutes (turned them over after 10 minutes). I also used thick cut bacon because that’s what I had. Oh, they were so good!! Will definitely be making them again! Thanks for sharing your recipe 🙂
The air fryer sounds like a great idea. Did your bacon cook all the way through or would you suggest partially cooking it first? I know sometimes with bacon wrapped things the under side of the bacon doesn’t cook up very good.
Curious about making these for a large group meal. Feeding about 60 people. Can we bake and then put in toaster without drying out?
Roaster…not toaster
Easy to make and delicious
Has anyone made these on a Blackstone??
If u grill them didn’t the bacon grease start a grill fire? What did u grill them on, on the grill?
They are done on a smoker,not a BBQ.
I always do mine on a gas grill and I have no issues with fire. Just buy better bacon with not so much fat on it or cut some of it off. You can partially cook it in foil first then remove the foil and the melted fat and finish over the grates.
They were delicious and very tender. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Are they sweet tasting because of the brown sugar?
I would partially cook my bacon before wrapping the chicken, to prevent the chicken from being too dry.
Bacon wrapped chicken tenders was a huge success! So flavorful. I made mine in the oven. The last 5 minutes I put them in the air fryer. It made the bacon crisper and caramelized the brown sugar. Wonderful recipe!
How high did you turn the air fryer for the last 5 minutes?
Wow these were fantastic. I love the bold flavor and some of the juiciest chick I have ever cooked. Keep the recipes coming Amy.
Wish I could post a photo of mine. 😊
This is a favorite with the family! Unfortunately my broiler stopped working, so I placed them in the air fryer to brown up. Worked beautifully! This recipe has become the Sunday family meal!!!
I love bacon and chicken so I was looking for a way to combine both into a single dish. Then I came across the Bacon-wrapped chicken tenders which turned out to be too succulent. My family simply loved the dish and we are planning to make it again next week.