If you’re not new to Wholesome Yum, you probably already know how much I love recipes with just a few ingredients. Even better when they are common ingredients that you often have in your fridge. This oven baked bacon wrapped chicken tenders recipe requires just three of them! Chicken, bacon, and cheese are all you need. Easy and simple! But, if you prefer a traditional breaded kind, use this keto chicken tenders recipe instead. Anything wrapped in bacon is going to be impressive! And, it can be wrapped on just about anything. If you’re a fan of bacon wrapped recipes don’t forget to check out my bacon wrapped dates, bacon wrapped hot dogs, or bacon wrapped scallops.
How to Make Chicken Wrapped in Bacon With Cheese
If you ask me, this cheesy version is the best way to cook chicken wrapped in bacon. Sure, you could make bacon wrapped chicken tenders without the cheese, but try this way and you’ll see why I prefer it. The melt-y cheese oozing out is just an amazing combo with the chicken and bacon. Complete the meal with cheesy zucchini gratin. I used sharp cheddar cheese, since it pairs so well with those flavors. And – who am I kidding? – it’s partly because it’s what I had around. I’m pretty sure any kind of cheese you like will work just fine. Hard cheeses work best, though.
Baked Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders for Meal Prep
I’m always looking for low carb chicken recipes I can make ahead. (My whole family loves chicken!) And, with two kids and two jobs, I’m often too busy or tired on weeknights to spend much time or effort on dinner. That’s one of the reasons I love to make these easy bacon wrapped chicken tenders. You can easily prepare them in advance! Usually I prep the chicken wrapped in bacon on the weekend, and store it covered in a pan in the fridge. Then, I can just stick the pan in the oven right before dinner time. I don’t recommend baking the tenders ahead of time, if you can avoid it. Just like any other chicken recipe, they will be more dry after reheating. That being said, I’ve happily enjoyed chicken wrapped in bacon as leftovers on multiple occasions. With this recipe, it’s still delicious! The cheese and bacon do help a lot when it comes to locking in moisture. Even if you didn’t plan ahead, bacon wrapped chicken tenders are crazy easy to make and don’t take very long. They are ready in under 30 minutes from start to finish! That makes them perfect for a quick weeknight meal, but they look nice enough for serving for company, too.
How Long To Bake Bacon Wrapped Chicken
Just like my three-step Italian baked chicken breast recipe, I baked these bacon wrapped chicken tenders in the oven for a short time, at a high temperature. It will vary by oven, but using this method mine took 15 minutes at 450 degrees Fahrenheit. You don’t have to do it that way – there really isn’t a wrong level of heat with this easy recipe. But, they will take longer if you use a lower temperature. How long to bake bacon wrapped chicken will actually depend on two factors: the thickness of the chicken and the oven temperature. I like everything faster when possible, so I opted for the route of high temp and less time. You may still need to adjust the time a bit based on the thickness, though. By the way, you can actually make this recipe in two ways. You can do bacon wrapped chicken tenders or simply bacon wrapped chicken breast. I had tenders around, so that’s what I made. Either one will work great. I’m sure you could even use chicken thighs, but those may need a slightly longer time in the oven. Do you have a preference – chicken breasts, tenders, or thighs?
More Easy Chicken Recipes
If you like these bacon wrapped chicken tenders, here are more easy chicken ideas:
Juicy Baked Chicken Breast – My easy technique for the juiciest chicken ever. Crock Pot Creamy Tuscan Chicken Coconut Chicken Tenders Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken Breast – Just 5 ingredients, sweet & salty, and paleo friendly!
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