Bacon wrapped chicken thighs with garlic are so addictive! This chicken thighs recipe with bacon is so easy you won't believe it! And you can cook them in the air fryer or the oven for a chicken thigh full of garlic and bacon flavor and nice crisp edges.
Garlic chicken wrapped in bacon is absolutely delicious!! You have to try making this easy chicken recipe. I'm pretty sure you will not regret it, especially if you love chicken thighs and bacon as much as we do!
These chicken thighs wrapped in bacon turn out super juicy and tender and you can even turn them into a stuffed chicken dish if you want!
This stuffed chicken wrapped in bacon recipe is one that I have been making for years and will continue until my dying day! It goes great with just about anything but we love it with juicy fried red tomatoes and cheesy potato casserole.
If you enjoy this recipe, you're going to love these honey bbq chicken legs or this simple honey chicken thighs recipe.
Why You Will Love Chicken and Bacon!
- Always a hit! Bacon wrapped garlic thighs disappear lightning fast. Don't believe me? Make this easy chicken recipe for dinner and see for yourself.
- Lots of bacon flavor! It's almost like bacon is a magnet and people are simply drawn to it. My husband says it's like a moth to a flame.
- Easy recipe. The preparation time is minimal and after you wrap up one chicken thigh, the rest are pretty easy to do.
- Full of flavor and juiciness. The garlic butter and bacon make these thighs so full of flavor, and so moist, that I can guarantee they will be enjoyed by all!
Bacon Wrapped Garlic Chicken Thighs Ingredients
All you need are four simple ingredients plus salt and pepper to make this easy chicken wrapped in bacon recipe.
- Chicken thighs: Boneless, skinless thighs makes this recipe quicker and easier to prepare.
- Bacon: I find thin bacon is easier to use for wrapping the chicken.
- Butter: The rich flavor of butter infuses the chicken, keeping it moist and flavorful.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is the best option for making bacon wrapped garlic chicken thighs.
Check the recipe card further down the page for the full list of ingredients and the quantities of each.
How To Make Bacon Wrapped Chicken
There are two different ways you can make bacon wrapped chicken thighs! Both work great but one requires a couple of extra steps.
- To get started, assemble all your ingredients. Then combine the butter and garlic in a small bowl and mix up until well blended. Set it aside for just a few minutes.
- Choose how you want to prepare the stuffed chicken.
Quick and Easy Method
- Place the thighs on your work surface. Sprinkle the top of each with salt and pepper.
- Divide the garlic butter evenly on top of each thigh.
- Wrap each thigh tightly with bacon. Make sure each slice is touching and the next slice starts where the last one ended.
Thinner Chicken Method
- Open each thigh and place them one at a time between two pieces of plastic wrap. Use a mallet to pound each thigh until flat, level, or even.
- Spread your garlic butter all over one side of the chicken thigh and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Then roll the chicken thigh up as tightly as possible. Wrap each piece of rolled chicken thigh tightly with bacon. Make sure each slice is touching, or slightly overlapping, and the next slice starts where the last one ended.
- Once you’ve got the thighs wrapped in bacon, you're ready to cook them in the oven or the air fryer.
TOP TIP: If planning to make stuffed chicken wrapped in bacon, use the method above that flattens the chicken. The thinner piece of meat is easier to wrap.
Bacon Wrapped Chicken in the Air Fryer
Cooking bacon wrapped chicken thighs in the air fryer works well and the results are wonderful. Your bacon will end up crispy and your thighs cooked perfectly!
Place the pieces in the air fryer basket. Cook for thirty minutes at 340 degrees F. Then flip each piece and cook for another 10 minutes. If you’re cooking large thighs you might need to cook longer.
Oven-Baked Bacon Chicken
The oven works perfectly for making this recipe. The only real difference between the two methods is the timing as the oven takes a bit longer to cook.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Transfer the wrapped thighs to a lightly sprayed baking tray and cook for 40 to 55 minutes.
TOP TIP: Exact timing depends on the size of your chicken thighs and the thickness of your bacon. Basically, once your bacon is cooked your chicken is done!
- Serve up this bacon wrapped chicken recipe with your favorite sides! Eat and enjoy!
Storage
- Leftovers: Let the chicken cool down before storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days or in the freezer for up to three months.
- Make ahead: You can prep the chicken three days ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to cook them. If using fresh chicken, you can also freeze uncooked bacon chicken in the freezer until you're ready to thaw it out and cook it.
- Reheat: Reheat thawed leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven for about 15 minutes or until heated through. You can also reheat in the microwave or air fryer.
Variations
- Chicken Breasts: Use the same recipe but with chicken breasts instead of thighs with a slight adjustment to the cooking time. Cook in the air fryer at 340 degrees F for 40 to 50 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken, flipping once midway during cooking.
- Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs: My goodness, you can even add cheese, if you're in the mood for bacon chicken! Imagine, bacon wrapped garlic thighs stuffed with cheddar, mozzarella, or Monterey or Colby Jack cheese.
- Stuff with Ham or Veggies: Another idea is to add some sort of cooked meat, such as sliced or chopped ham. For best results lay it down on top of your flat piece of chicken first, followed by the cheese and then the garlic butter.
- Grilled Bacon Wrapped Chicken: Cook them on the upper rack of the barbecue, over low heat, with a tray underneath to catch all of the bacon drippings. After about 15 minutes, move the thighs to the lower grill and turn your barbecue or grill up to medium-high for about five minutes per side. Then return the chicken to the upper rack and cook until a thermometer registers 165° F, about another 10 minutes.
What Sides Go with Chicken Wrapped in Bacon?
These stuffed chicken wrapped in bacon can be literally served with anything your heart desires. I love main courses like that. Makes meal planning so much easier. Here are a few of our favorites.
- Parmesan Potato Halves
- Pepper Jack Potato Casserole
- Candied Sweet Potatoes
- Sauteed Cauliflower
- Air Fryer Cabbage
- Cheesy Broccoli Rice
Expert Tips
- Low temperature. Air frying bacon wrapped thighs works best when they are cooked for more time at a lower temperature. The bacon doesn't end up with burnt edges or undercooked in some parts of the chicken.
- Judge doneness with a thermometer. This is the most accurate way to know when chicken is cooked is to cook it to 165° F. Since pieces can vary in terms of weight and thickness, the timing here is a guideline.
- Secure the stuffed chicken. When stuffing the thighs with cheese or more, you can use toothpicks or tightly tied kitchen string to help keep the chicken secured if needed, though I generally find the bacon is enough to keep it together.
FAQS
I always start wrapping the bacon at the long end and across the widest part of the chicken thigh. Then, underneath the chicken thigh, I switch directions with the second bacon strip and continue wrapping across the narrow side.
The idea is to cover the entire chicken thigh with bacon and tuck the bacon ends underneath each thigh so every bite is filled with chicken and bacon!
Yes, you can either freezer cook or uncooked pieces. If you want to freeze cooked pieces, simply allow them to cool and then store them in an airtight container for up to 3 months. To freeze uncooked bacon wrapped chicken, make sure you are using fresh chicken. After wrapping the chicken, place them in an airtight container or bag and freeze for up to one month. Thaw them out on a tray in the refrigerator and then continue with cooking as directed.
More Chicken Thigh Recipes
Recipe Video
Take a moment to check out our video below! You can see just how easy these Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs are to make!
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- rack
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs boneless, skinless
- 12 slices bacon
- 3 - 6 tblsp butter softened
- 1-2 teaspoon garlic, minced
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with tinfoil and a rack coated in cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the butter and minced garlic until well blended. Set aside.
Quick and Easy Method
- On your work surface, place the chicken, garlic butter, bacon, salt and pepper. Sprinkle salt and pepper on each thigh.
- Divide the garlic butter evenly on top of each thigh. Ken likes to use ½ tablespoon of garlic butter per thigh, I like to use 1 tablespoon per thigh.
- Wrap each thigh tightly with bacon. Make sure each slice is touching and the next slice starts where the last one ended.
Thinner Chicken Method
- On your work surface, place the chicken, garlic butter, bacon, salt and pepper. Open each thigh and place between 2 pieces of plastic wrap.
- Using a mallet pound each thigh until flat. Spread your garlic butter all over the one side of the chicken thigh. Ken likes to use ½ tablespoon of garlic butter per thigh, I like to use 1 tablespoon per thigh.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper on top of each thigh. Roll the chicken thigh up as tightly as possible.
- Wrap each chicken thigh tightly with bacon. Make sure each slice is touching and the next slice starts where the last one ended.
Bake in the Oven
- Place each chicken thigh on your prepared baking sheet with a rack and bake for 40-55 minutes or until bacon is cooked to your liking and the chicken registers 165° F with a digital thermometer.
- Feel free to broil chicken thighs for a few minutes, if desired, this will darken or crisp up the bacon on top even more if you prefer. Enjoy! These thighs are fantastic!
Air Fryer Cooking
- Place the wrapped thighs in the air fryer basket. Cook in the air fryer at 340 degrees F for 30 minutes. Flip each piece over and cook for another 10 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165° and the bacon should be fully cooked and crispy.
Notes
- Low temperature. Air frying bacon wrapped chicken thighs works best when they are cooked for more time at a lower temperature. The bacon doesn't end up with burnt edges or undercooked in some parts of the chicken.
- Judge doneness with a thermometer. This is the most accurate way to know when chicken is cooked is to cook it to 165° F. Since pieces can vary in terms of weight and thickness, the timing here is a guideline.
- Secure the stuffed chicken. When stuffing the chicken thighs with cheese or more, you can use toothpicks or tightly tied kitchen string to help keep the chicken secured if needed, though I generally find the bacon is enough to keep it together.
Nutrition
This post was originally published June 2018 and has been updated with photos and content July 2022.
Jo Ann MacMillan says
Very, very gooD. MY guests loved it. Had to give out the recipe.
Karin and Ken says
Thank you for taking the time to let me know. I love this recipe too! Glad I’m not the only one! All the best. Karin
Curtis says
I use this recipe but use cream cheese and spinach in the wrap. It turns out amazing.
Karin and Ken says
It’s all good! Glad to hear you think this recipe deserves 5 stars! I could not agree more! Thank you for the suggestion. I’m going to try that myself! Thank you for taking the time to let me know! Take care and all the best. Karin
Leti says
Great recipe! I chopped fresh chives with the garlic butter. On the side, I chopped up an avocado salad that complimented these chicken thighs....so good. 1 avocado, a hand full of cilantro, 1 half medium tomato, 1/4 of a red onion, and some lime juice so the avocado will stay green. Plus salt and pepper to taste. This gave the chicken such a fresh lighter taste.
Karin and Ken says
That sounds absolutely wonderful. I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to comment. I’m going to try that myself! Take care and all the best. Karin
Michele says
I'm about to put this chicken in the oven and I've come across a question. It says in #1 to coat a rack with cooking spray and set aside. But the rack is never mentioned again. It says to place the chicken on the baking sheet to bake. So I'm not sure if I'm supposed to back the chicken on the rack or on the pan. Thank you.
Karin and Ken says
On the rack! The rack prevents the chicken from sitting in the bacon grease and allows the bacon to cook evenly. These thighs are delicious. I will update the instructions to be more clear. I apologize for the confusion. Please let me know what you thought of the chicken if you have a moment. I just love it! Regardless, Take care and be well. Karin
roy murry says
We have been making de-boned quail in this fashion for decades. Today you inspired me to roll the pounded boneless skinless chicken thighs with smoked sausage (thin sliced) jalapenos and jack cheese. It was the next best thing to being at the ranch or on a quail hunt. Thank you for the inspiration.
Karin and Ken says
You are most welcome! That sounds wonderful! Might just try that myself! Thank you! Take care and all the best! Karin
Erin Frazier says
Just made these for the first time. I googled boneless skinless chicken thighs, bacon and garlic as these are 3 of my man’s favorites and this recipe popped up. All I can say is...mmmmmm! It was delish and he raved about it. Will definitely be making these again and again and again......
Karin and Ken says
I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to let me know that you enjoyed these chicken thighs! They are a favorite around here too! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! Take care and all the best. Karin
Lisa says
Just finished baking and i snuck a taste..
mmmm.I added some mozzarella before rolling , i thinkl i have a hit on my hands,thanks!
Karin and Ken says
You made my day! I love that recipe and next time I make it I am going to add some cheese myself! Can’t thank you enough for the suggestion! I love them! Take care and enjoy the rest of your day! Karin
Teresa says
I made these last week. Making again tonight. Love the fact that you use thighs.
Inside I do a blend of butter, garlic, chives,& cream cheese. My husband loves them!
Karin and Ken says
I apologize for the delay in my response! You know I have been making these for years and your version sounds even better and I would love to try it. Any chance you would mind sharing your recipe or method with me? I would be so grateful! I’m always in the mood for different! Funny it never occurred to me to use the cream cheese! Regardless you truly made my day. I’m so glad we are not the only family that enjoys this recipe! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! Take care of you and be well. Karin
Beverly Thomas says
WhT is the olive oil for? It's not included in steps..also at the end of the steps you posted breast...are they breast or thighs?
Karin and Ken says
We recently had to retype every recipe again and unfortunately some mistakes were made. I can not thank you enough for drawing this to our attention. We apologize for the inconvenience. The recipe does not require olive oil and is for chicken thighs not chicken breasts. The site has been corrected. Hopefully you enjoy this recipe as much as we do! Thanks again for taking the time to let us know. Take care and all the best. Karin