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Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders Recipe

Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders

Juicy chicken tenderloins are coated in a sweet-smoky spice blend, wrapped in thin-cut bacon, and air-fried until browned, crisp, and fully cooked.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g), about 8 pieces Boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins
  • 8 slices Thin-cut bacon
Seasoning
  • 2 Tbsp Light brown sugar
  • 1 tsp Smoked paprika or sweet paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp Black pepper
Optional
  • 1/4 tsp Chili powder or cayenne
  • As needed Cooking spray

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Pat the chicken tenderloins dry and remove any tough white tendon if present. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and optional chili powder or cayenne.
  2. Coat each chicken tender evenly with the seasoning mixture. Wrap one thin-cut bacon slice around each tender, slightly overlapping the ends, and secure with a toothpick if needed.
  3. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) if your appliance requires preheating. Lightly spray the basket if desired, then arrange the tenders in a single layer with space between them and the bacon seam underneath when possible.
  4. Air-fry for 10–15 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking. Thicker tenders may require a few additional minutes, so check the thickest piece with an instant-read thermometer.
  5. Remove the chicken when the bacon is browned and crisp and the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) internally. Rest for 2–3 minutes, remove any toothpicks, and serve hot.

Notes

Thin-cut bacon is preferred because it cooks at a similar rate to the chicken. Avoid overcrowding the basket, cook in batches if needed, and use an instant-read thermometer rather than bacon color alone to determine doneness.