My Bacon Wrapped Barbecue Chicken recipe makes juicy bacon wrapped chicken breasts with brown sugar BBQ sauce, baked in an oven or air fryer.
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast Recipe
We absolutely love it, I mean who wouldn’t? Bacon wrapped chicken breasts, with some brown sugar if you want and maybe a little barbecue sauce!
We make these Bacon Wrapped Barbecue Chicken breasts all the time. Bacon does make everything taste better and in this case brown sugar and barbecue sauce does too!
My husband adores this bacon wrapped barbecue chicken recipe and makes it every chance he gets.
He found this maple bacon barbecue sauce and since then, that is the barbecue sauce he prefers to use each time we make this chicken. Feel free to use your favorite brand of barbecue sauce as all will work beautifully!
As long as there isn’t any homemade around.
As you might expect. Homemade generally tastes better.
Your other option is to make a quick, homemade barbecue sauce. If I have time I always try and make homemade.
This easy barbecue sauce recipe is a definite keeper too.
I love being in control of the taste and every flavor that is added to my own barbecue sauce. Don’t you? When you have the time.
Regardless of what you decide you’ll LOVE every bite of this bacon wrapped chicken breast recipe.
Baked Bacon Wrapped Chicken
This Bacon Wrapped Barbecue Chicken breast recipe is so easy to make and is a perfect dinner option for any day of the week! The preparation time is exceptional, really!
You just cook the bacon for a few minutes, wrap the chicken and bake it, add the barbecue sauce and bake again! It doesn’t get any easier than that!
While the chicken is baking you have lots of time to prepare whatever side dish you are serving with it!
We tried repeatedly, in every way we could think of, to make these Bacon Wrapped Barbecue Chicken breasts without having to par cook the bacon first.
We just couldn’t figure out how to do it without drying out the chicken breast itself and who wants that?
This method works perfectly, every time to make sure your BBQ bacon wrapped chicken breasts taste perfect, every time you make them!
BBQ Bacon Wrapped Chicken
This easy barbecue sauce recipe takes minutes to prepare and makes about 2 cups total which is perfect for this recipe.
The barbecue sauce will last in your fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Start by using 1 ½ cups ketchup, add the rest of the ingredients and see if you think it needs more.
Quick Barbecue Sauce
- 1 ½ – 2 cups ketchup
- ⅓ – ½ cup molasses
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- salt to taste
- pepper or cayenne to taste
Whisk together all ingredients in a bowl and decide if you want to add any of the options listed below. The first time you make this easy barbecue sauce recipe I encourage you to make the basic recipe first.
Taste as you go and add ingredients that interest you or you have on hand. Try a little and add some more if needed.
The next time you make it you will know exactly the way you like it or you can keep trying different combinations.
I like starting with the 1 ½ cups of ketchup and if you add too much of anything you can always dilute the flavor by adding in the extra ¼ – ½ cup of ketchup.
Don’t be afraid to try a different ingredient. I think you just might be glad you did.
In case you are curious, I always add a couple tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, about ¼ cup of mustard, whichever kind I find first. We love the sauce with both mustards.
A few drops of liquid smoke, a little garlic and onion powder and that is it for us. My son on the other hand who loves heat, adds minced chipotles or diced jalapeños too.
Never both chiles together. Always one or the other.
My husband and I can no longer tolerate a lot of heat, unfortunately but my son sure can!
Options
- ¼ – ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
- 2 – 4 tablespoons mustard, yellow or Dijon
- 2 -4 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 -4 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 -4 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 -4 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 2 -4 teaspoons minced chipotle chile in adobo
- 1-2 jalapeño chiles, stemmed, seeded, and minced
- 2 -4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Bacon Wrapped Brown Sugar Chicken
Using brown sugar adds another delicious dimension to this tasty baked bacon wrapped chicken.
You’ll see. You’ll have another versatile weeknight chicken recipe to add in to your rotation. This bacon wrapped brown sugar chicken dinner is a definite winner!
For some, adding brown sugar is enough and they skip the barbecue sauce. You’ll have to try it and see for yourself which version you prefer.
For others there is just more of this excellent BBQ bacon wrapped chicken breast to enjoy.
The brown sugar caramelizes underneath the bacon to make the sweetest coating surrounding the chicken. That sweetness, with the saltiness of the bacon, make each bite a flavor explosion in your mouth!
Literally. Oh so good.
With barbecue sauce an excellent finish and for others, a little too much but bacon wrapped brown sugar chicken is definitely worth a try!
Frankly, they are both worth trying. Then you can decide for yourself which method you and your family prefer.
Bacon Wrapped Chicken in Oven
This recipe Bacon Wrapped Barbecue Chicken is such a crowd pleaser, each time I serve it!
Both family and friends always enjoy the result and I have never had any leftovers.
I have to tell you that my son always keeps one of these Bacon Wrapped Barbecue Chicken breasts for his lunch the next day. He puts it in a bun and makes a sandwich for himself and loves it!
Now that I think of it, my son makes a sandwich out of anything and everything so why not this baked bacon wrapped chicken.
He just loves it and I suppose I shouldn’t knock it until I try it.
So I guess that is like having leftovers!
Ingredients in Bacon Wrapped Barbecue Chicken
- chicken breasts
- bacon
- barbecue sauce, store bought or homemade
- brown sugar, optional
- cooking spray
How to make Bacon Wrapped Barbecue Chicken
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with tinfoil and a rack coated in cooking spray. Set aside.
Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until the edges begin to crisp, about 5 minutes.
Drain bacon on paper towels.
If using brown sugar you need to add it now and there are a few ways to do this.
- You can either lay a slice of bacon flat on a cutting board and cover it with a layer of brown sugar. Place your chicken piece on top and slowly roll your chicken breast over top of the brown sugar covered bacon slice. You’ll need to make sure that each bacon edge touches the next as you’re rolling. Takes a little longer but the results are terrific.
- My husband piles brown sugar all over the top of the chicken breast and I mean piles the brown sugar. Holding the breast in one hand he wraps the bacon slice around and around the chicken breast and it works for him every time. The brown sugar as it heats melts under the bacon and he manages to almost accomplish the same thing. The only difference with his method is the lack of brown sugar on the underside of the chicken breast. He doesn’t thinks it matters at all and I agree.
- The last method is to use cooled melted butter. Yep I said it. Dip you rinsed and dried chicken breast into cooled, melted butter and press into brown sugar. You should have a thick layer of brown sugar on your chicken breast. While holding the chicken breast in your hand, carefully wrap bacon strips around the chicken breast.
Make sure to wrap each chicken breast with 2 to 3 slices of bacon, using toothpicks if necessary, and try to stretch bacon so the ends are underneath the chicken breast.
Place onto the prepared baking sheet with a rack.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Check underside of chicken and decide if you need to flip the chicken over. Some racks are higher than others and every oven is different. You need your bacon cooked on the bottom of each chicken breast.
Bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes to crisp up bottom.
Paint a generous amount of barbecue sauce all over the chicken breasts, if using, and bake until the juices run clear and the chicken is no longer pink inside, between 5 and 10 more minutes.
Turn oven to broil for the last few minutes to crisp up the bacon if necessary.
Serve and enjoy!
Bacon Wrapped Barbecue Chicken in Air Fryer
If you would like to try this amazing recipe with chicken breasts you can, cook them in the air fryer at 340 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken.
Flip once midway during cooking.
You DO NOT need to precook the bacon.
Again, we preferred the way the bacon turned out when the chicken breasts were cooked at a lower temperature.
Bacon Wrapped Everything…
We love wrapping bacon around everything from this wonderful bacon wrapped chicken breasts recipe, made right in your own oven, to shrimp, meatloaf or biscuits and the list could go on and on!
I think my husband has tried wrapping bacon around everything he can think of! Here is a list of our favorites.
Bacon Wrapped Garlic Chicken Thighs
Sweet Sriracha or Sweet Chili Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
The Best Bacon Wrapped Pork Meatloaf
Crispy Prosciutto Wrapped Garlic Chicken
Just in case this BBQ bacon wrapped chicken dish isn’t for you I have listed some others below you just might want to have a look at.
You can never have too many chicken recipes. Hopefully you will enjoy them as much as we do!
Easy Chicken Recipes
Perfect Oven Barbecued Chicken
Cheesy Barbecue Bacon Chicken Breast
Balsamic Orange Maple Glazed Chicken
Sweet Balsamic Apple Glazed Chicken Breasts
Bacon or Prosciutto Wrapped Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Maple Garlic Glazed Chicken Breasts
Crispy Onion Honey Mustard Chicken
Balsamic Raspberry Garlic Chicken
The Best Alice Springs Chicken Copycat
Cordon Bleu Hasselback Chicken
Quick and Easy Apricot Chicken
Crunchy Barbecue Onion Chicken
If you have a moment take a look at our video below. I think you will be glad you did!
Bacon Wrapped Barbecue Chicken Video
Bacon Wrapped Barbecue Chicken
Equipment
- rimmed baking sheet
Ingredients
- chicken breast, boneless, skinless
- 2-3 slices bacon, per breast
- ½ - ¾ cup barbecue sauce
- cooking spray
- 1 cup brown sugar, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with tinfoil and a rack coated in cooking spray. Set aside.
- Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until the edges begin to crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain bacon on paper towels.
Without Brown Sugar
- Wrap each chicken breast with 2 to 3 slices of bacon, using toothpicks if necessary, and place onto the prepared baking sheet with a rack.
- Try to stretch bacon so the ends are underneath each chicken breast.
Using Brown Sugar
- If using brown sugar you need to add it now and there are a few ways to do this.
- You can either lay a slice of bacon flat on a cutting board and cover it with a layer of brown sugar. Place your chicken piece on top and slowly roll your chicken breast over top of the brown sugar covered bacon slice. You'll need to make sure that each bacon edge touches the next as you're rolling. Takes a little longer but the results are terrific.
- My husband piles brown sugar all over the top of the chicken breast and I mean piles the brown sugar. Holding the breast in one hand he wraps the bacon slice around and around the chicken breast and it works for him every time. The brown sugar as it heats melts under the bacon and he manages to almost accomplish the same thing. The only difference with his method is the lack of brown sugar on the underside of the chicken breast. He doesn't thinks it matters at all and I agree.
- The last method is to use cooled melted butter. Yep I said it. Dip you rinsed and dried chicken breast into cooled, melted butter and press into brown sugar. You should have a thick layer of brown sugar on your chicken breast. While holding the chicken breast in your hand, carefully wrap bacon strips around the chicken breast.
Baking the Chicken
- The key to baking chicken wrapped in bacon is knowing that once the bacon s cooked your chicken is usually done.
- Bake chicken for 30 minutes.
- Check underside of chicken and decide if you need to flip the chicken over. Some racks are higher than others and every oven is different. You need your bacon cooked on the bottom of each chicken breast. Flip and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes to crisp up bottom.
- Once bacon is cooked, flip chicken back over if desired. Paint a generous amount of barbecue sauce all over the chicken breasts, if using, and bake until the juices run clear and the chicken is no longer pink inside, between 5 and 10 more minutes.
- Turn oven to broil for the last few minutes to crisp up outside if necessary or desired.
- Serve and enjoy!
Air Fryer
- If you would like to try this amazing recipe with your air fryer, follow directions exactly. Cook them at 340 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken, flipping once midway during cooking. You do not need to precook the bacon slices.
- Add barbecue sauce and set timer for up to 5 more minutes. Enjoy!
Notes
lazyme
Yummy chicken. I loved how simple it was to prepare too. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Karin and Ken
So glad you enjoyed it! I love this chicken! Thank you for taking the time to let me know! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! Take care and enjoy the rest of your day! Karin