Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs

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. 

1. 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.
2. Choose how you want to prepare the stuffed chicken.

Quick and Easy Method

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• 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

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• 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.

3. 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!

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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!

4. 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

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!

This post was originally published June 2018 and has been updated with photos and content July 2022.