Description
These Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders are a quick and easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer. The chicken tenderloins are coated with a flavorful blend of brown sugar and chili powder, wrapped in savory bacon, then baked to juicy perfection with a sweet and spicy touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Seasoning Mix
- 1 (1 oz) packet ranch seasoning mix
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt plus more to taste
Browning Mixture
- ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (omit if you don’t like spice)
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound raw boneless, skinless chicken breast tenderloins (7 tenders total)
- 7 slices uncooked bacon (use regular cut, not thick cut)
- Honey mustard for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish thoroughly with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Ranch Seasoning Mix: In a small bowl, whisk together the ranch seasoning mix, paprika, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Set this mixture aside.
- Prepare Brown Sugar Coating: In a medium bowl, combine the dark brown sugar, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. Sprinkle half of this sugar mixture evenly into the bottom of the greased baking dish.
- Coat Chicken Tenders: Place the chicken tenderloins into a gallon-sized resealable bag. Add the ranch seasoning mix to the bag. Seal the bag securely and shake thoroughly until all chicken tenders are evenly coated with the seasoning.
- Wrap with Bacon: Wrap each seasoned chicken tender with one slice of uncooked bacon, ensuring the bacon covers the tender completely. Place each bacon-wrapped tender into the prepared baking dish on top of the sugar coating.
- Top with Remaining Sugar Mixture: Sprinkle the remaining half of the brown sugar mixture evenly over the bacon-wrapped tenders to enhance the flavor and create a sweet glaze once baked.
- Bake: Bake the tenders in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp and the chicken is thoroughly cooked (internal temperature should reach 165°F).
- Serve: Optionally sprinkle a pinch of additional salt over the tenders to taste. Serve warm with honey mustard dipping sauce for a perfect sweet and savory appetizer.
Notes
- Do not use thick-cut bacon as it may not cook thoroughly or wrap around the tenders well.
- If you prefer less heat, omit the cayenne pepper from the brown sugar mixture.
- For best results, use fresh chicken tenderloins evenly sized to ensure even cooking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freeze up to 2-3 months.
- To reheat, thaw frozen tenders in the refrigerator and bake again until warmed through and bacon is crispy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: bacon, baked, chicken tenderloins, sweet and salty, appetizer, crowd pleaser
