Description
Deliciously crispy and savory Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders, perfectly seasoned and glazed with a sweet chili and BBQ sauce blend. This quick and easy recipe yields tender chicken wrapped in smoky bacon, air fried to golden perfection in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken & Bacon
- 8 boneless skinless chicken tenders
- 1 pound bacon (about 12 slices cut in half)
Rub & Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Sauce
- 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes to ensure it’s hot and ready for cooking.
- Season: Season the chicken tenders with salt and black pepper evenly to enhance their flavor.
- Wrap: Wrap each chicken tender tightly with bacon slices that have been cut in half, ensuring the chicken is fully covered.
- Mix Rub: In a medium bowl, combine smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, and brown sugar to create the seasoning rub.
- Toss: Gently toss each bacon-wrapped chicken tender in the seasoning rub until well coated.
- Arrange: Place the bacon-wrapped tenders in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch to allow even cooking.
- Sauce Brush: Mix the sweet chili sauce and BBQ sauce in a bowl. Brush this glaze generously over the chicken tenders.
- First Air Fry: Air fry the tenders at 400°F for 5 minutes to start cooking and crisping the bacon.
- Flip & Brush: Flip the chicken tenders, brush again with the sauce mixture to maintain moisture and flavor, then air fry for another 4-5 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp and chicken is cooked through (internal temperature 165°F).
- Rest: Remove the cooked tenders and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess grease while cooking the remaining pieces.
- Serve: Serve the air fryer bacon wrapped chicken tenders hot with your favorite dipping sauce for a perfect appetizer or main dish.
Notes
- Ensure the chicken tenders reach an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to allow even air circulation and crispiness.
- If your air fryer has a smaller basket, cook in batches for best results.
- You can substitute the sweet chili sauce with honey for a different sweet glaze.
- Let the tenders rest briefly after cooking to lock in juices and enhance flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: bacon wrapped chicken tenders, air fryer chicken, crispy chicken tenders, easy appetizer, smoky chicken recipe
