Air fryer bacon-wrapped chicken gets savory, crisp edges and a sticky BBQ glaze without heating the oven. Cook the chicken at 375°F (190°C) for about 18–20 minutes, including the final glazing time. Preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes, and flip the pieces once during cooking. The timing is a guide: use a food thermometer to check that the thickest part of every chicken portion reaches 165°F (74°C).
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 4 similar-size portions
- 4 slices regular-cut bacon
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
Regular-cut bacon is easier to wrap around these smaller portions and has time to brown as the chicken cooks. Choose portions of roughly even thickness so they finish close together; if one breast is especially thick, gently pound its thicker end before cutting. There is no need to add salt before tasting, since the bacon and sauce bring plenty of seasoning.
How To Make It
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3 minutes with the empty basket in place. Do not put loose parchment in the basket while preheating.
- Pat the chicken dry and season all sides with the garlic powder, smoked paprika, and pepper. Wrap one bacon slice around each portion in a spiral, tucking the ends underneath.
- Place the chicken seam-side down directly on the basket’s perforated crisper plate. Leave space between pieces for airflow; cook in batches if your basket is small. No pan or liner is needed.
- Air fry for 14–16 minutes, flipping carefully after about 8 minutes. Brush the exposed bacon with BBQ sauce, then cook for another 3–4 minutes, until the glaze looks tacky and the bacon is browned.
- Check the center of each chicken portion with a thermometer, keeping the probe away from the bacon. Continue cooking in short increments if any piece is below 165°F (74°C). Let stand for 3–5 minutes before serving.
Tips
Brush on the sauce near the end so its sugar is less likely to darken before the chicken is done. If you want extra sauce at the table, pour out a separate portion before brushing the chicken; do not serve sauce touched by a brush used on undercooked meat. Air fryers and chicken thickness vary, so rely on the thermometer rather than the clock or the color of the bacon. Let accumulated bacon grease cool before cleaning the basket according to your appliance instructions.
Serve the glazed chicken with a crunchy slaw or a simple green salad.
