Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders (2024)

Enjoy some low-carb indulgence with our Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders – where crispy meets tender.

I think it’s pretty clear from this bacon wrapped chicken tenders recipe that I’m not a vegetarian. I’m all about Meatless Mondays, but when Tuesday comes around, I’m ready for some animal protein. Bacon wrapped chicken tenders sound greasy, and they kinda are given the bacon fat. However, using an air fryer cuts back the amount of oil you’ll use so it’s not as bad as you might think.

If you don’t own an air fryer yet, I heartily recommend getting one. I use it for everything from BBQ chicken wings to onion rings, and it’s super easy to use. If you know how to handle a toaster oven, an air fryer won’t be a problem. They come in different sizes, too, so you’re sure to find one to fit your countertop. I love how this clever appliance lets me enjoy “greasy” food like bacon wrapped chicken tenders but without the grease, and I bet you will too.

Are Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders (Air Fryer ) Healthy?

With only 2 grams of carbs and 32 grams of protein per serving, Keto fans may have just found their new favorite snack. As for the rest of us carb-loving eaters, I’d still argue that these bacon wrapped tenders are fairly healthy. I suppose its biggest drawbacks are the fat and sodium content. You could always use turkey bacon instead of the typical pork variety, but that would definitely change the taste and texture. It may also alter the cooking time as well.

Reducing the sodium content is easy enough, however. Bacon contains a lot of sodium in it already, so you could probably drop about ½ a teaspoon of salt from the recipe without affecting the flavor too much.

The Key to the Most Tender Chicken Tenders

You’d think with a name like “chicken tenders,” the chicken would be, well, tender. Often that’s not the case. Whether you cut the breasts yourself or buy the chicken pre-cut, I’d recommend you tenderize your meat before you do anything else. The quickest way to do this is with a meat tenderizer mallet. If you don’t own one yet, they’re not terribly expensive and are an invaluable resource for meat lovers. Given the mallet’s natural weight, tenderizing the chicken doesn’t take much. Just a few gentle pounds can help break down the muscle fibers in the chicken and also even out each piece so that they cook at the same rate.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2teaspoonssea salt
• 1teaspoonsmoked paprika
• 1teaspoongarlic powder
• 1/2teaspoononion powder
• 1/2teaspoondried oregano
• 1/2teaspoondried thyme
• 2poundschicken tendersapproximately 16 tenders
• 16slicesof bacon

INSTRUCTIONS

Prep and Season

Pre-heat your air fryer mix your spices in a bowl and coat the chicken tenders.

Wrap and Arrange

Wrap each tender with a slice of bacon, tucking the ends to secure. Place them in the air fryer basket.

Cook

Cook the tenders for 15-20 minutes, turning them half way through.

Rest and Enjoy

Give your tenders a brief rest, then serve.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

Serving Suggestions

While bacon wrapped chicken tenders make for a decent meal, I love using them as party appetizers. They’re also fun gameday snacks and go great with our air fryer buffalo cauliflower. Just make sure to have a delicious dipping sauce ready. A maple BBQ sauce would be good, or a spicy ranch would do nicely. For the mustard fans out there, I’d recommend a honey mustard dipping sauce you probably whip up in minutes.