Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders

Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders bring the perfect balance of savory bacon and sticky sweet brown sugar to your dinner table. You can serve them as a satisfying main course or an amazing party appetizer in under 30 minutes.

Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders are a simple, delicious recipe combining salty, smoky bacon with a sweet, caramelized coating. You only need five basic ingredients and about 30 minutes to make this family-friendly dish. You’ll love the sweet and savory flavor that makes these tenders perfect for dinner or your next party. This recipe shows you how to prepare and bake this sticky, crispy chicken right in your own oven. Follow these easy steps to get this amazing appetizer on your table quickly.

Key Takeaways

• Prep Time: 10 Minutes
• Cook Time: 20-25 Minutes
• Total Time: 30-35 Minutes
• Yields: 8 Tenders
• Core Flavor: Sweet, salty, and savory caramelized coating.

Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders are prepared by coating chicken in a brown sugar mixture, wrapping them tightly with bacon, and baking them at 375°F for 20 to 25 minutes. This process creates a perfectly juicy chicken interior with a crispy bacon crust and a delicious, sticky glaze on the outside. You will want to serve them immediately while they are hot for the best flavor.

The Magic Behind the Flavor of Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders

Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders achieve a unique taste due to the cooking process, blending two opposite flavor profiles. The fat from the bacon crisps up, simultaneously basting the chicken to keep it incredibly moist and juicy throughout the cooking time. Meanwhile, the brown sugar melts and caramelizes, creating a sticky, candied shell that adheres wonderfully to the bacon. You get a tender, savory protein wrapped in a sweet and salty crust with every single bite.

Sweet and Savory Combination Explained

The success of this dish lies in the contrast between sweet and savory ingredients, which creates an irresistible flavor. The sweetness of the brown sugar is perfectly balanced by the smoky, salty nature of the bacon, avoiding an overly saccharine result. This contrast excites your taste buds and is why this type of recipe is so popular in appetizer or dinner menus. It’s truly a winning combination that your whole family will enjoy.

The Role of Brown Sugar in Caramelization

Brown sugar is the essential element that gives these tenders their signature sticky glaze and beautiful color. As the sugar heats in the oven, it melts and then caramelizes into a deep amber coating on the bacon’s surface. This creates a glaze that seals in the moisture of the chicken and gives the bacon its crisp, yet candied texture. You should keep a careful watch during the last few minutes of baking to prevent the sugar from burning.

Preparation: Getting Your Chicken and Bacon Ready

Proper preparation is key to ensuring your Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders cook evenly and hold their shape. You should start by ensuring your chicken breasts are cut into uniform strips, which guarantees they all finish cooking at the same moment. This uniformity also makes the wrapping process much easier, allowing the bacon to cover the surface neatly. Take your time to cut the pieces to a manageable size, roughly the size of standard chicken tenders.

Slicing Chicken Breasts into Tenders

To begin, you must first slice the chicken breasts into tenders to maximize the surface area for the delicious coating. If you are using large chicken breasts, you should aim for about four strips per breast, cutting them lengthwise into thin pieces. This method ensures that the chicken strips are not too thick, allowing them to cook thoroughly at the same rate as the bacon. If you prefer, you can also buy pre-cut chicken tenderloins to save some time and effort.

Selecting the Right Bacon Thickness

Choosing the correct bacon is critical for this recipe’s texture and final cooking result. While the recipe calls for thick-cut bacon, you should note that thinner bacon crisps faster, which might be better if you prefer extremely crunchy pieces. If you use standard, thin-cut bacon, you may need to reduce the baking time by a few minutes or keep a very close eye on the oven. Thick-cut bacon provides a better meat-to-sugar ratio but can take slightly longer to crisp up fully.

The Coating Process: Mixing the Sweet Rub

The brown sugar rub provides the distinct flavor profile that makes these tenders so addictive and gives them a wonderful sticky texture. You should combine the light brown sugar, kosher salt, and black pepper in a small mixing bowl until the ingredients are well incorporated. This mixture is more than just sugar; the salt enhances the sweetness while the pepper adds a subtle, savory kick that prevents the flavor from being dull. This simple mixture will turn into a mouthwatering glaze as it bakes.

Tossing and Coating the Chicken Strips

After you have mixed the simple dry rub, you should gently toss the chicken strips in the bowl until they are completely coated. Don’t worry if the mixture seems very sticky; that is exactly what you want it to look like before the bacon is added. The pre-coating step helps the brown sugar adhere directly to the chicken, creating a deeper layer of flavor beneath the bacon wrap. This sticky coating also provides an adhesive surface for the bacon when you begin the wrapping step.

Securing the Bacon Wrap Tightly

Wrapping each tender tightly in a spiral is essential to keep the bacon from unraveling during baking, which maintains the shape and flavor. You should start at one end of the tender and wrap the strip of bacon all the way around, ensuring the ends are tucked neatly underneath the chicken piece. If you find the bacon won’t stay put, you can secure it with a wooden toothpick, making sure to remove the pick before serving. Place the wrapped pieces on your prepared baking sheet with the seam side down.

Baking Instructions and Achieving Optimal Crispness

Baking at 375°F is the ideal temperature to cook the chicken through while allowing the bacon to crisp and the sugar to caramelize effectively. You should arrange the wrapped tenders in a single layer on a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet to prevent sticking and simplify cleanup. Baking on a rack placed over the sheet pan is another technique you can use to allow fat to drain, which results in even crispier bacon. Remember that placing them on a rack helps achieve maximum crispiness on all sides.

Monitoring the Baking Time for Juiciness

The cooking time of 20 to 25 minutes is generally perfect for tenders, but you should always check the internal temperature to be sure. Use a meat thermometer to confirm the thickest part of the chicken has reached $165^\circ\text{F}$ ($74^\circ\text{C}$), which is the safe temperature for poultry. Overcooking this dish can result in dry chicken, so you need to be careful to remove them promptly when they hit that internal temperature. If the bacon needs more time to crisp, you can briefly use the broiler setting.

Tips for Extra Crispy Bacon Results

To ensure your bacon is wonderfully crispy and not chewy, you have a couple of helpful tricks you can employ. First, using a rack, as mentioned, is highly effective for drainage and overall crispness. Second, if the bacon isn’t as crisp as you’d like after the chicken is fully cooked, carefully place the pan under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, but watch closely so the sugar doesn’t burn. Bacon is versatile and provides a great texture boost when prepared correctly.

Serving Suggestions and Dipping Options

These savory sweet tenders are fantastic on their own, but serving them with a dipping sauce truly enhances the experience. You can choose a creamy option like ranch dressing to balance the intense flavors or stick with another sweet choice. Serving them immediately is recommended because the heat keeps the bacon crisp and the caramelized sugar slightly tacky. You may want to plan on serving these with a side of coleslaw or some steamed vegetables.

Best Side Dishes to Complement the Tenders

Since the Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders are rich and flavorful, you will want to serve them with simple, fresh side dishes. A light green salad, mashed potatoes, or even baked beans are excellent choices that provide a refreshing contrast to the richness of the bacon and sugar glaze. The sweet and savory nature of the chicken pairs well with starchy sides like roasted potatoes or mac and cheese. Consider serving them with a simple lemon-dressed vegetable for a complete meal.

Adding a Spicy Kick or Glaze Variation

If you prefer a little heat, you can easily add a dash of cayenne pepper or chili powder to the brown sugar rub before coating the chicken. A small amount of spice works very well to cut through the sweetness of the sugar, creating a more complex flavor profile. You can also brush the finished tenders with a light coating of warm maple syrup right before serving for an extra shiny, sticky glaze. Visit our Pinterest account for more quick flavor ideas.

Making Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer

The air fryer is a popular method that provides an even faster way to achieve perfectly crispy Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders without turning on your oven. You should preheat your air fryer to $375^\circ\text{F}$ ($190^\circ\text{C}$) and lightly spray the basket with non-stick cooking spray to prevent the sugar from sticking. The forced hot air circulates quickly, ensuring the bacon becomes incredibly crisp in a reduced amount of time. This is a great alternative method to use on busy weeknights.

Adjusting Cook Times for the Air Fryer

When using an air fryer, you must adjust the cook time because they tend to cook food much faster than a conventional oven. For bacon-wrapped tenders, start with a cook time of 10 to 12 minutes, flipping the pieces halfway through the cooking cycle. Always check for that internal temperature of $165^\circ\text{F}$ to ensure safety and ideal doneness. Remember that air fryer models vary, so you might need to test a piece or two to find the exact time for your appliance.

Preventing Sticking and Easy Cleanup

The melted brown sugar can sometimes stick to the air fryer basket, making cleanup difficult, so proper preparation is necessary. Line the basket with a perforated parchment paper liner designed for air fryers to simplify the process. You can also lightly brush the bottom of the tenders with oil before placing them in the basket to help prevent the caramelized sugar from sticking. Check out more cooking methods on the site.

Storing and Reheating Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders

Proper storage is essential if you happen to have any leftovers of your delicious Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders. You should allow the tenders to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container for storage in the refrigerator. They will last for about three to four days when stored correctly, making them a wonderful meal prep option for lunches. Food storage techniques help maintain their freshness and safety.

Reheating Methods for the Best Results

To maintain the crisp texture of the bacon and the stickiness of the glaze, you should avoid using the microwave for reheating. The best way to reheat these tenders is in the oven or air fryer at a lower temperature, around $300^\circ\text{F}$ ($150^\circ\text{C}$), for about 10 minutes. This slow, dry heat will re-crisp the bacon without drying out the interior chicken tender. You will find that they taste almost as good as they did when they were freshly baked.

Freezing and Long-Term Storage Tips

You can easily freeze these chicken tenders for longer storage, which is great for batch cooking or future party planning. Wrap each individual tender in plastic wrap or foil, then place them all into a heavy-duty freezer bag or container. They will maintain quality in the freezer for two to three months; you should always label the bag with the date for best practice. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before reheating for the best texture.

Troubleshooting Common Issues with Chicken Tenders

Even though this recipe is simple, you might encounter a few common challenges while preparing your Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders. One frequent issue is the bacon not getting crispy enough before the chicken is fully cooked, especially if you are using extra thick-cut slices. Another challenge is ensuring the brown sugar does not burn or turn too dark during the high-heat baking process. You should always trust your meat thermometer over the stated cooking time.

How to Prevent the Brown Sugar from Burning

To stop the brown sugar from burning and turning bitter, you should monitor the tenders closely during the last 5 to 7 minutes of baking. If you notice the sugar darkening too quickly, you can loosely cover the baking dish with a piece of aluminum foil for the remaining cook time. Another preventative measure is to use a baking rack to lift the tenders slightly, preventing them from sitting directly in the melted sugar and bacon fat. Keep an eye on them for that perfect, sticky caramel color.

Why Your Bacon Might Not Be Crispy Enough

If your bacon is still chewy when the chicken is done, you may need to use a different technique to achieve the desired crispness. Try par-cooking the bacon slightly in a skillet for just a few minutes before wrapping the chicken tenders, which gives it a head start in the cooking process. As a final resort, you can quickly broil the finished tenders for 60 seconds, but you must not walk away from the oven. You will love the final outcome when you have wonderfully crispy bacon on top.

Creative Variations for Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders

While the classic recipe is fantastic, you can easily adapt the flavor profile of Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders to suit your personal tastes. You can add extra spices to the brown sugar mixture, such as onion powder, garlic powder, or a smoked paprika for a deeper flavor. Swapping the protein is another easy way to change the dish, using thick-cut pork loin pieces or even large shrimp for a seafood appetizer. Follow us on Instagram for more recipe inspiration.

Spicy Rubs and Glaze Additions

For a delicious twist, consider incorporating a smoky or spicy element into the rub for a sweet-and-spicy flavor combination. Adding a teaspoon of chipotle powder or a half-teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the brown sugar mixture introduces a pleasant heat. You can also use a mixture of dark brown sugar and a splash of BBQ sauce for the final glaze. Feel free to be creative with the seasonings you use.

Alternative Meats and Plant-Based Options

While chicken is the traditional protein for this recipe, you can certainly try other options with great success, such as thick pork medallions or even meatballs. For a vegetarian option, you could wrap firm tofu strips or large zucchini slices in a plant-based bacon substitute and follow the same preparation method. This makes the recipe flexible and accommodating to various dietary needs or preferences. You should always keep the portions small for optimal cooking and flavor balance.

Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders offer a delightful mix of textures and tastes that make them a standout dish for any occasion. This recipe proves that you don’t need a lot of ingredients to create something truly memorable and delicious for your family and friends. You’ll find that the combination of salty bacon and the sweet, caramelized sugar is utterly irresistible every time you make them.

Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders are simple to prepare and offer a huge payoff in flavor, whether you serve them as an appetizer or a main course. You now have all the tips and tricks to perfectly bake them, from wrapping the bacon tightly to achieving that ideal crispness. We hope this sweet and savory dish becomes a favorite in your kitchen, making weeknight dinners easy and flavorful for everyone. Try adding this recipe to the Dinners category.

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