Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/17/19
Bacon wrapped chicken tenders with ranch dip.
The Spruce / Diana Rattray
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yield: 12 pieces

These simple bacon-wrapped chicken tenders are a perfect choice for any night of the week. With just 2 or 3 ingredients plus salt and pepper, preparation is a breeze. Make them for a meal and serve with mac and cheese, rice, or fries, or serve them as a snack with a ranch dressing dip or marinara sauce. If you're following a keto or low carb diet, these are made for you! Serve them along with roasted cauliflower for a fabulous low carb meal.

Chicken tenders are usually quite uniform in shape, making them ideal for snacks or meals. Like chicken breasts, tenders can be tough if overcooked. The chicken tenders cook evenly and the bacon wrapping helps keep them soft, moist, and full of flavor.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 to 2 pounds chicken tenders (10 to 12 tenders)
  • 12 ounces bacon (10 to 12 strips)
  • Optional: 4 ounces mild cheddar cheese strips
  • Kosher salt (to taste)
  • black pepper (freshly ground, to taste)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for bacon wrapped chicken tenders.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  2. Heat the oven to 400 F and spray a cooling rack with nonstick cooking spray. Place the rack in a large rimmed baking sheet.

  3. Sprinkle the chicken lightly with kosher salt. Wrap a strip of bacon around a chicken tender, covering as much of the chicken as possible, and then sprinkle with pepper. Repeat with the remaining chicken tenders and bacon. Place the wrapped chicken tenders on the prepared rack in the baking pan.

    If desired, place a strip of cheese on the chicken tender before wrapping with bacon.

    Bacon wrapped chicken tenders ready for the oven.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  4. Bake the wrapped chicken tenders in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken registers about 165 F on an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest pieces.

    Bowl of bacon wrapped chicken tenders.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  5. Serve the chicken tenders with a dip or make them part of a full meal.

    Bacon wrapped chicken tenders with sour cream ranch dressing dip.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

What is a chicken tender?

The tender, or tenderloin, is a strip of meat from the pectoralis minor muscle of the bird. They are located under the breast meat on either side of the breastbone. They might also be called fingers, strips, or fillets. 

Can I Prepare the Chicken in Advance?

Yes, you can prepare them up to 24 hours in advance. Wrap the chicken tenders with the bacon and place them in an airtight container. Take the chicken out of the fridge about 20 minutes ahead of time; preheat the oven and bake as directed.

Tip

For crisper bacon, put the chicken strips under the broiler for a few minutes before serving.

Recipe Variations

  • Bite-Sized Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites: Slice the chicken tenders and bacon strips crosswise into halves or thirds and wrap the smaller pieces. Bake as directed and serve with ranch dip, marinara, or aioli.
  • Honey Mustard Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders: Brush the chicken strips lightly with honey mustard before wrapping them with bacon.
  • Saucy BBQ Bacon Wrapped Tenders: Brush them with barbecue sauce just before they go into the oven.
  • Spicy Bacon Wrapped Tenders: Sprinkle them lightly with ground cayenne or chipotle pepper or your favorite spicy seasoning blend.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
166 Calories
9g Fat
3g Carbs
16g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 166
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 12%
Saturated Fat 3g 14%
Cholesterol 74mg 25%
Sodium 225mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Protein 16g
Calcium 47mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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