Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders (Printable)
Crispy bacon-wrapped chicken with a sweet brown sugar coating
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1 lb chicken tenders
02 - 1/2 tsp salt
03 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
→ Coating
04 - 2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
05 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1/4 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
→ Bacon
08 - 8 slices bacon, cut in half
# How-to Steps:
01 - Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and set a wire rack on top.
02 - Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and black pepper.
03 - In a shallow bowl, combine brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.
04 - Wrap each chicken tender with a half-slice of bacon, overlapping slightly. Secure with a toothpick if necessary.
05 - Roll each bacon-wrapped chicken tender in the brown sugar mixture, pressing gently to coat all sides.
06 - Arrange the tenders on the wire rack, spacing them out to allow air circulation.
07 - Bake for 25–30 minutes, turning once halfway through, until the bacon is crispy and the chicken reaches 165°F internally.
08 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Remove toothpicks if used.
# Expert Pointers:
01 -
- The bacon keeps the chicken incredibly juicy while creating this irresistible sweet and smoky crust
- They reheat surprisingly well, making them perfect for meal prep or unexpected guests
02 -
- That wire rack is nonnegotiable if you want bacon that crisps all the way around instead of just on top
- The sugar will bubble up and look dangerously dark, but trust the timer and check your meat temperature instead
03 -
- Pat the chicken completely dry before wrapping, otherwise the bacon will steam instead of crisp
- If the bacon starts unwrapping, a quick toothpick through everything saves the day