Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs

Bacon wrapped garlic chicken thigh on a plate with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

5 from 6 votes

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.

Prep Time15

Cook Time40

Total Time55

Servings:

Calories: 280kcal

Author: Karin and Ken

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.

Video

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