Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast

4.96 from 43 votes

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Bacon wrapped chicken breast is a family favorite baked chicken dinner, and it comes together in just 40 minutes. Crisp bacon and tangy BBQ sauce take dry chicken to juicy perfection!

bacon wrapped chicken breast on white plate


It’s no secret that chicken breasts are a lean protein that makes a great addition to a healthy diet. BUT, it’s also no secret that chicken dinners are notorious for being dry and boring. My solution for juicy, flavor perfection is wrapping the poultry with crispy bacon!

Healthy baked chicken breasts wrapped in crispy bacon and smothered in a thick, sticky BBQ sauce makes this a dish that is just bursting with flavor!

Bacon wrapped chicken breast

This recipe can be made with either bone-in or boneless skinless chicken breasts. My choice is bone-in chicken breasts, because the bones create moisture and give additional flavor to the meat.

Do bone-in chicken breasts take longer to cook? Yes, but unless they’re huge, it’s just 3-4 minutes longer; the trade-off of time for extra flavor is worth it in my mind.

Ingredient notes and substitutions

  • Chicken breasts– bone-in or boneless. I recommend removing the skin because it won’t become crispy.
  • Ground chili powder – Any brand of chili powder is fine, or you can make my homemade chili seasoning.
  • Garlic powder or onion powder
  • Bacon – The crispy bacon is my favorite part of this dinner! For the extra crispy slices, use thin-cut bacon. If you want to use thick cut bacon, you’ll need to partially cook it first. Just wrap the slices in paper toweling and microwave on high power for a minute or so.
  • BBQ sauce – You can use any BBQ sauce that you have on hand for this recipe, but the dish is always better when you use your favorite.

If you’d like to try your hand at homemade BBQ sauce, I highly recommend you make my Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce.  This BBQ sauce has a brown sugar base, but the sweetness is nicely balanced with the heat from chili powder and ground black pepper.

Recipe video

Making bacon wrapped chicken breasts isn’t difficult at all, but some people find it tricky to keep the bacon attached. To see the process from start to finish, watch the video located in the recipe card a the bottom of this post.

bacon wrapped chicken breast in baking dish

Making bacon wrapped chicken breast

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. This may seem hot, but that high heat helps to crisp up the bacon.
  2. Remove any chicken skin from each breast and discard.
  3. Sprinkle the chili and garlic (or onion) powder evenly over the chicken breasts.
  4. Wrap a slice of bacon over the top of each breast, tucking the ends of the bacon underneath the sides of the chicken.

    NOTE: Don’t wrap the bacon all the way around the chicken breast. Instead, wrap the bacon slices over the top of each breast, then tuck each end of the bacon underneath. I find that one slice of bacon cut in half horizontally is perfect for wrapping one large chicken breast.
  5. Place the bundles in a greased 13×9” baking dish. Brush each chicken breast with BBQ sauce.
  6. Bake the chicken uncovered for 35-40 minutes depending on the size of the chicken breast. Baste once if desired while it bakes.
photo collage: wrapping chicken breasts with pork belly

Recipe tips and FAQ

  • For the crispiest bacon: If you want to wrap bacon completely around each chicken breast, keep in mind that the bacon underneath the chicken may not cook completely. If you choose this option, I also suggest partially cooking the bacon before wrapping it around the chicken. This should ensure that the bacon is crisp and cooked all over.
baked chicken pieces covered in bbq sauce and crispy bacon

Here are answers to a few commonly asked questions about baked bacon wrapped chicken breast:

How many calories are in a bacon wrapped chicken breast?

The calories in one bone-in, bacon wrapped chicken breast can vary depending on the size of the breast. On average, each piece has 465 calories, when made with the ingredients shown in this recipe. bacon wrapped chicken breast closeup

Does bacon discolor chicken?

If the bacon you use for the chicken contains nitrates, it may give the meat a slight pink or reddish color. As long as the internal temperature of the meat reaches 165°F, it is considered safe to eat.

Why is my cooked chicken pink?

Even fully cooked chicken can still have a pink tinge to it. This is especially true of younger chickens, as they have more pigment in the bone marrow. This pigment can color the surrounding tissue and make the bones themselves look very dark.

Why is my bacon wrapped chicken breast rubbery?

Overcooking is a common reason for rubbery chicken. Using bone-in chicken and covering it with bacon and bbq sauce should help to keep it juicy. If you’re using boneless chicken breasts, cook them for a few minutes less than the recipe time stated and then check the internal temperature to ensure that it reaches 165°F.

close up of several Chicken Breasts covered in BBQ sauce and bacon

If you want to enjoy more bacon, then check out my Maple Bacon Wrapped Carrots and these Bacon Wrapped Tots.

And if you’re in the mood for another delicious baked chicken dish, then you should try this easy, one-pan Baked Honey Mustard Chicken.

juicy chicken breast covered in bbq sauce and bacon on white plate with asparagus

This post, originally published on Kevin is Cooking Oct. 7, 2016, was last updated with new content on Jan. 7, 2022.

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bacon wrapped chicken breast on white plate

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

4.96 from 43 votes
Bacon wrapped chicken breast is a family favorite baked chicken dinner. Crisp bacon and tangy BBQ sauce take dry chicken to juicy perfection
Servings: 4 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 40 minutes

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • Remove any chicken skin from each breast and discard. Sprinkle the chili and garlic (or onion) powder evenly over all four chicken breasts. Wrap a slice of bacon over the top of each breast, tucking the ends underneath. (See Note 1)
  • Place the chicken in a greased 13×9” baking dish. Brush each chicken breast with BBQ sauce.
  • Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes depending on size of chicken. Baste once if desired while it bakes. Chicken should be done when thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast meat reads 165°F.

Video

Notes

  1. This recipe was tested with bone-in chicken breasts. If using boneless, check for doneness at 25 minutes. Chicken is properly cooked when an instant read cooking thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of the meat registers 165°F.
 
  1. The chicken breasts I used were large, so I cut each slice of bacon in half and wrapped the two pieces over the top of each breast, tucking the ends under. Feel free to wrap completely around chicken breast, though I find it does not cook completely. If you want to wrap each piece of chicken, partially cook the bacon and then wrap it completely. That way the bacon is crisp and cooked all over. If wrapped underneath, it tends to steam and not cook completely.

Nutrition

Serving: 1breast | Calories: 465kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 130mg | Sodium: 627mg | Potassium: 529mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 300IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 2mg

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Course: Dinners
Cuisine: American
Have You Made This Recipe? Let Me Know on InstagramTag @keviniscooking or tag me #keviniscooking!
titled: baked chicken breasts covered in bacon and bbq sauce

Kevin

Whether in the kitchen or on the grill, you’ll find me cooking American favorites with a love for BBQ, Mexican and Tex Mex. I’m passionate about making tasty food because life’s too short to be bland!

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117 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This chicken looks wonderful, Kevin. And we just bought a bottle of BBQ sauce that’s new to us – now I know one way to use it.

    I’m bummed that you’ll be SO close to us…you and David should make a jaunt down to Bend sometime. 🙂 I’ve never been to the ice cream shop you mentioned, but it sounds amazing. Will definitely check it out next time we’re in town.

    1. Thanks Marissa. How far time wise is it from Portland? I’d be game to make the drive down. We hit up Dave’s niece once in Eugene, which is about same distance South, but you’re East a bit too, right? If Dave’s family doesn’t have us booked it might be a possibility. 🙂

  2. 5 stars
    Well you’re just a traveling junkie, huh? I’m super jealous!!! I wish Boy and I got out more, but he likes to live in a bubble of comfort. Lol. Thank goodness I have you to live vicariously through!! Sounds like you guys have a great trip planned for the holiday and I can’t wait to hear all about it!! Now let’s talk food! Kevin, this chicken looks AMAZING! This is one of those dishes that is perfect for any season! Love the bacon (obviously) and that BBQ sauce! Dinner winning up in here! Pinned! Cheers, buddy!

    1. The trip to Wisconsin was a productive and educational one. More on that to come! Portland though is pure family fun, I can’t wait! Yeah for bacon and BBQ sauce! Thanks Cheyanne. 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    These chicken breasts look so irresistibly succulent and delicious, that I’ve got an instinct. To grab and run away:) Love the pictures too, Kevin (especially with the asparagus).

  4. This will be a definite hit at our house Kevin! Really, what’s not to love? Anything wrapped in bacon is always a winner! Thanks for sharing and hope you have a great week!

  5. This sounds amazing, Kevin! Super easy and super flavorful…and that BBQ sauce is just making my mouth water. I wrapped bacon around the outside of our turkey before smoking it one year, and that was super fun…but I don’t think I’ve ever wrapped bacon around chicken. Totally need to make this one, and soon! Hope you had fun on your weekend adventures!

    1. Definitely give this a try, it’s great because you can do it year round and so easy. The four days in Madison were so fun and I highly recommend visiting. Thanks Dave!

  6. Bacon + Chicken = winner winner awesome chicken dinner 😉 Sounds so comforting!! I absolutely love checking out the food scene anytime I visit anywhere new. I’m all about the foo! That’s the first thing hubby and I go for. I’ve heard of olive oil ice cream, but I’ve never had. It’s definitely something I would try, though. By the way, Your pics are just gorgeous once again, Kevin!

    1. It was and always is, super tender, tangy and easy. The little shops and restaurant/pubs around the Madison capital square area were filled, people laughing with big glass storefronts to peek in and see. Quite a fun place to visit. Fantastic food! Thank you so much Dawn for the kind words on the photography, too. 🙂

  7. Hey Kevin! This is making me hungry and it’s only 7:30 am! Bacon and barbecue sauce make a wonderful pair! Sounds like you enjoyed your trip even if it was a little chilly!

    1. Indeed on both counts Dorothy. It was a great trip albeit short. Glad to be back in some sunshine and get back to work here. Looking forward to the mail! 😉

    1. Thanks Gaila! I was quite surprised by the foodie type shops and all the restaurants, bars and pub like places all with exceptional food. It’s a happening place. I was told it to be the Austin of the Mid-West.