These Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Bites are sweet, savory, and a bit spicy — totally perfect for your next party.
I had you at bacon, right? If you are a fan of bacon, you likely agree that adding bacon or wrapping something in bacon makes it so much better. The only issue, in my opinion, is that popular bacon-wrapped foods, like scallops and dates, are a bit unique. I can’t sell dates to my kids and scallops are pretty expensive to make a tray of, just to pop in your mouth. Enter, bacon-wrapped chicken bites.
The practice of wrapping foods in bacon goes back centuries in various cuisines, but in England, one of the earliest popular examples appeared in the late 19th century with Angels on Horseback—oysters wrapped in bacon. Around the same time, a similar dish called Devils on Horseback, typically prunes or dates (sometimes stuffed with cheese) wrapped in bacon, also caught on. These dishes helped spark the trend of wrapping all kinds of ingredients in bacon, from savory sides like Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus to fun appetizers like sweet-and-salty Bacon-Wrapped Pineapple Bites.
One of my favorite aspects of bacon-wrapped chicken bites is that they have a unique flavor, but the ingredients are standard, and likely available in your kitchen already. The main ingredients are boneless, skinless chicken breasts and slices of bacon. The bacon has a rich, unmatched flavor, but the real excitement comes from the sweetness of the brown sugar, combined with the spice of chili and garlic powder. These bacon-wrapped chicken bites also come together in a few steps and take about a half hour in the oven. Just like that, you have tasty, savory hors d’oeuvres for a party or a protein-packed snack for your family. And your home will smell heavenly.
Are Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Bites Healthy?
Bacon-wrapped chicken bites are packed with protein. However, brown sugar contains a high amount of carbohydrates and the bacon, of course, contributes a high amount of fat and sodium. To adjust this dish for a keto diet, you’ll need to replace the brown sugar with a keto-friendly sweetener.
Choosing The Right Bacon For Your Wrapping
For bacon-wrapped chicken bites, using the right bacon can really make or break your dish. Most importantly, do not use thick-sliced or center-cut bacon. These options take longer to cook and will leave you with a chewy, greasy bite. If you only have thicker bacon, I recommend partially pre-cooking it, before wrapping the chicken. Also, while you do not want to break the bank with a pound of bacon, you don’t want to get the cheapest one either, since bacon is the star of the show. Finally, this recipe suggests cutting the bacon strips in thirds widthwise, but before you get busy with the kitchen scissors, make sure that length will cover your chicken bites.
How to make ahead and store
Bacon-wrapped chicken bites are best served right away. You could assemble them a few hours in advance, refrigerate them, and then pop them in the oven a half hour before you are ready to enjoy them. If you have leftovers, they can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days and reheated in the oven.
Serving Suggestions
These bacon-wrapped chicken bites are perfect for a formal holiday party or a Sunday Funday football party. If your party is more formal, you can serve these chicken bites passed on a tray accompanied with Healthy California Roll Sushi Bites or these simple Pizza Bites. For a more chill vibe, set your bacon-wrapped chicken bites out with BBQ Paleo Wings and this delish Chunky Guacamole served alongside Air-Fryer Tortilla Chips.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
- Kosher salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 pound bacon slices cut into thirds
- Freshly chopped parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top. Lightly coat the rack with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a bowl, toss chicken cubes with salt and black pepper.
- In a separate bowl, mix brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder. Cut bacon slices into thirds.
- Wrap each chicken cube with a piece of bacon, secure with a toothpick, and dredge in the brown sugar mixture. Arrange on the prepared rack.
- Bake for 25-35 minutes or until bacon is crisp and chicken is cooked through. If using, sprinkle with parsley before serving.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Leave a Comment