Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wrapped in Bacon

How can you possibly go wrong with a recipe for Air Fryer BBQ Chicken that's ready in 10 minutes and tastes amazing? How about we wrap the chicken in bacon and sprinkle a little brown sugar on top?

The chicken is juicy and flavorful, and the bacon adds a delicious crispy texture. It's easy to make, and your family will love it!

This is another delicious Air Fryer Appetizer recipe that's ready FAST! Grab the FREE Air Fryer Cooking Times printable available to help you cook everything to the right temperature all the time. Check out my list of other Air Fryer Recipes for even more delicious ideas.

Wrap your next chicken dinner in something special - bacon! This delicious recipe for air fryer BBQ chicken wrapped in bacon is sure to be a hit with the whole family. The chicken is juicy and flavorful, and the bacon provides a crispy, savory counterpoint.

It's easy to make and only takes a few minutes to cook, so you can enjoy a delicious, Family Favorite Chicken Recipe that's a stress-free meal any night of the week. It's also great for snacking.

And if you're looking for the perfect side dish recipe, try a family favorite like Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes.

Cooking Tip: Don't worry if you do not have an air fryer, there are instructions below for baking the chicken in the oven.

Table of Contents

• Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast
• Is air fried chicken healthy?
• What should the internal temperature of chicken be?
• Helpful Kitchen Tools
• Main Ingredients Needed 
• Step-by-Step Directions 
• How do I know when my Chicken is Done?
• Recipe FAQs
• 💬 Comments

Looking for a larger portion of chicken for dinner tonight? Try my Air Fryer Chicken Wrapped in Bacon that uses a full chicken breast per serving.

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast

The flavor is so intense with this recipe and yet the chicken is incredibly tender and juicy. Using the air fryer does not dry chicken out. Which is what I thought would happen. 

This recipe is very similar to my Bacon Wrapped Crock Pot Chicken, only it's ready fast. The recipe takes about five minutes to assemble and then ten minutes of cooking in the air fryer. You can have dinner or a family snack ready in 15 minutes following this recipe. 

You can serve these homemade dipping sauces alongside the cooked chicken. They're perfect for dipping! 

Is air fried chicken healthy?

Cooking anything in the air fryer requires less oil than if you were going to fry foods traditionally, which right away makes the food healthier. Using an air fryer to cook chicken and other foods can help you cut calories by not using the added fat from oil. 

What should the internal temperature of chicken be?

There is a lot of debate over what the internal temperature of chicken should be. Some say that as long as the meat is cooked through, the temperature doesn't matter.

However, the USDA recommends cooking chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure that it is safe to eat. This temperature will kill any harmful bacteria that may be present in the meat.

When cooking chicken, be sure to use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat, away from bone, and wait until the reading stabilizes. Then, remove the chicken from the heat and let it rest for three to four minutes before cutting into it. This will help to ensure that the juices stay in the meat, making it more juicy and flavorful.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

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• Air fryer - the one I have is listed below. It works great for our family and it doesn't take up much room on the kitchen counter either..something that's important to me.
• Digital Meat Thermometer - I don't know about you, but I used to "guess" a lot when chicken was cooked completely and most of the time it was overdone. I always, always use this digital meat thermometer to make sure it's cooked perfect every single time.
• Silicone basting brush - I like to use a brush with silicone. Makes cleanin up easy too.

This is the Hamiliton Beach Air Fryer that I use and while the basket is not as big as I would like, it works great! 

ThermoPro TP03 Digital Instant Read MeatMore InformationHamilton Beach 2.6 Quart Digital AirMore InformationAir Fryer Perfection: From Crispy FriesMore InformationAir Fryer Cookbook for Beginners: 800More Information

 

Main Ingredients Needed 

This is an overview of the ingredients and instructions. Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact quantities, detailed instructions and special notes.

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts - you can use chicken tenders.
• Sliced bacon
• Barbecue sauce - your favorite brand. I like this bbq sauce. It's our favorite brand or try my Homemade Barbecue Sauce that's made with only three ingredients.
• Brown sugar - I used light brown sugar, but you can use dark brown sugar if that's what you have in your pantry. 
• Salt and pepper to taste - I love using my Homemade Salt, Pepper Garlic seasoning blend. 

Step-by-Step Directions 

Step 1 | Prepare the Chicken

• Begin by cutting the boneless chicken breasts into strips. I like to lay my raw chicken and meat on Parchment Baking Sheets to make cleanup easier. It also helps keeps surfaces sanitary and not spread any germs. 
• Slice the bacon strips in half. One full slice of bacon was just a bit too big for the chicken strips I cut. Remember, we're making chicken "bites." Wrap a half of bacon slice around each piece of chicken and place on a clean plate. 
• I have made this recipe two times now and didn't need toothpicks at all to hold the bacon in place.

Step 2 | Add the Barbecue Sauce

• The best way to add the barbecue sauce is to use a pastry brush to cover the surface of the chicken.
• Turn the chicken over and brush the other side as well with the barbecue sauce.
• At this point in  preparing the chicken, you can sprinkle with salt and pepper or use my Seasoning Salt Blend. 

Step 3 | Add the Brown Sugar

• Now, add the brown sugar.
• You don't really need to add brown sugar if you're trying to watch your sugar intake, but I think a little sprinkle adds to the flavor. We're only using 2 tablespoons for the whole recipe. 

Airware Reusable Air Fryer LinersMore InformationAir Fryer Parchment Liner SheetsMore InformationNon Stick Parchment Paper, RoundMore InformationAir Fryer Three Stackable RacksMore Information

 

Step 4 | How long to cook bacon wrapped chicken in air fryer?

• Place the chicken into the air fryer basket that's been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Close the tray and bake for 5 minutes in the 400 degrees preheated air fryer.
• Open the air fryer and flip the chicken pieces.
• Close the air fryer and cook the chicken for the remaining 5 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reads 165 degrees.

How do I know when my Chicken is Done?

• Make sure you use a Digital Meat Thermometer to accurately test if the chicken is fully cooked. 
• As you can see from the photo below, the chicken is reading at 168 degrees. It's cooked perfect! 

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Recipe FAQs

I know some people do not have an air fryer and I wanted to included instructions on how to bake this barbecue chicken wrapped in bacon recipe the traditional way...in the oven:

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Serve these Delicious BBQ Chicken Bite with one of these Yummy Side Dishes: 

• Twice Baked Potatoes - my son's favorite potato recipe.
• Air Fryer Mini Ravioli - these come out so crispy. Taste just like the appetizer you can purchase in restaurants.
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes - prep-ahead directions!
• Air Fryer Wontons - another easy air fryer appetizer recipe.
• Air Fryer Pizza Monkey Bread

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This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2020 with new information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!