Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts (Air Fryer)

These Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast bites are my new favourite way to make chicken in the air fryer. I love how bacon gets so crispy while keeping the chicken tender and juicy. Chicken breasts are cut into bite-size pieces, seasoned with spices, then wrapped in bacon and air fried until fully caramelized and the bacon is crispy and beautifully browned.

2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil
6 slices bacon
½ tsp. sea salt
¼ tsp. black pepper, freshly ground
¼ tsp. smoked paprika
½ tsp. garlic powder
¼ tsp. onion powder

Garnish:
1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, finely chopped

Cut the chicken into even bite-size strips, approximately 1" thick and 2-3" in length. Can also use chicken tenderloins.

In a medium bowl, add chicken pieces, coat with oil and spices, rub the chicken well and mix them all together until combined and fully rubbed. Feel free to add spices and seasoning of your choice.

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). If you don't have the preheat option, simply run it empty for 3 minutes.

Wrap each chicken piece with half a strip of bacon. Usually, half a strip of bacon is good enough for a small chicken piece. If not long enough, extend the bacon strip, until the chicken piece is fully covered with bacon. Use toothpicks to secure the bacon to the chicken meat.

Place bacon-wrapped chicken breasts directly onto the air fryer basket or tray. Give them a little space. Do not overlap. If you have a small air fryer, you may need to cook in batches of 6-8 chicken pieces.

Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway. Or until bacon is fully cooked, beautifully browned and crispy.

Usually, the air fryer times and temps are pretty accurate. But if you’re unsure, please use the meat thermometer until the internal temperature of the chicken reads 165°F (73°C). Or cook the chicken until the desired doneness.

Sprinkle with parsley, if desired, or herbs of your choice.

Makes 12 servings.

Cook's Notes: To store bacon-wrapped chicken, simply place it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to four days. When you're ready to reheat, preheat your air fryer to 350°F (180°C) and cook the chicken for about 5 minutes, or until heated through. If you find that your bacon is getting overcooked, simply cover the chicken with foil during the final few minutes of cooking.