Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs – These generously seasoned chicken thighs enveloped in bacon and baked to perfection are amazing. This quick and sensational chicken dinner is easy to whip up. Plus, it can double up as an appetizer or hearty salad topper! 🤩
I think we all agree that bacon makes everything better. In this dish, it’s what takes the humble, boneless, skinless chicken thigh to a next-level dinner or appetizer. It’s so good your family will be begging for seconds and maybe even thirds. 😉
It’s also super simple to make and easy to prep ahead of time. With minimal ingredients and maximum flavor, this is one of my go-to meals for a busy weeknight dinner. It’s also great for enjoying good food with friends without spending your whole evening in the kitchen.
How to Bacon Wrap Chicken Thighs
Bacon-wrapping chicken thighs is a breeze, especially true when baking them. Since you don’t need to flip it after it goes in the oven, simply drape the bacon across the thighs and tuck the ends underneath.
To keep the bacon extra neat as you pass it from the baking dish to the plate, hold it in place with a toothpick. Just don’t forget to take it out before serving.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken Thighs – I prefer boneless, skinless chicken thighs for quick prep and cooking time, not to mention the juicy finish. That said, you can use bone-in chicken thighs and adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Bacon – Thin-cut bacon is the key, my friend! Thick-cut bacon takes longer to cook and doesn’t crisp as nicely. 🥓
- Seasonings – Italian seasoning, paprika, cayenne, onion powder, pepper, garlic (or garlic powder), and a couple tablespoons of oil add loads of flavor to these savory chicken thighs.
How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Thighs
- Preheat oven to 400°F (205℃). Line a baking pan with parchment or foil paper; set aside.
- Prep Chicken. If the chicken thighs are too large, you may cut them in half or thirds, especially if making them as a party appetizer. Set aside.
- Season. In a medium bowl, mix the Italian seasoning, paprika, white pepper, garlic, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and oil. Rub each piece of chicken with spice mix. (Photos 1-4)
- Wrap with Bacon. Next, wrap a chicken thigh around the middle with a couple of slices of bacon, tucking the ends underneath or securing them with a toothpick. (Photos 5-6)
- Repeat – Lay the wrapped chicken on a prepared baking sheet with the bacon seam-side down. Repeat with all the chicken thighs.
- Bake until the thighs reach an internal temperature of 165°F (75℃) on an instant-read thermometer. It usually takes 30-35 minutes. (Photos 7-8)
Recipe Variations
- Swap the spices. Use any spice mix you like! Go sweeter with garam masala and brown sugar, or make it spicy with a generous amount of Cajun spices.
- Get cheesy. Stuff bacon-wrapped chicken thighs with your favorite cheese before wrapping them in bacon for a gooey, delicious center. 🤤
- Make a glaze. Glazes work great with bacon-wrapped chicken thighs. Heat things up with the glaze for my honey hot wings, or sweeten them with my pineapple glaze for meatballs. Brush your glaze of choice over the bacon-wrapped chicken and bake as directed.
- Bacon-wrapped chicken breasts. Trade out the thighs for the breasts and reduce the cooking time accordingly.
- Air fryer. Cook your bacon-wrapped chicken thighs in the air fryer for fast and extra-crispy goodness.
Tips and Tricks
- For extra crispy bacon, you can broil it for an additional 1-2 minutes. Rotate the chicken to get a good even crust.
- For even cooking, make sure every piece of chicken is roughly the same size, even if you use a cut other than thighs.
- Debone your chicken thighs for any chicken thigh recipe for quicker cooking.
- Make cleanup easy by lining your baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. 🙌
Make-Ahead Instructions
Arrange the wrapped chicken thighs on a baking sheet, cover them in the fridge, and pop them in the oven the next day! You can also cook them ahead of time and reheat them, but your bacon will lose its crispiness.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve chicken thighs wrapped in bacon hot out of the oven as a main course with sides or as an appetizer. You can also cut them into slices and put them on top of salad, which tastes awesome.
Store leftover chicken thighs in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat them in your oven, air fryer, or microwave.
What Goes With Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Thighs
Loads of side dishes go with these beauties, including basmati rice, garlic mashed potatoes, grilled carrots, and spicy green beans. I also love them sliced over a tossed salad with homemade ranch dressing. 😋
Wine Pairing: A bottle of Chardonnay is always a good pairing with any chicken dish, and this one is no exception. If you favor reds, try it with a Pinot Noir instead.
More Delicious Bacon-Wrapped Recipes to Try
- Easy Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp
- Smoked Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
- Hearty Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
- Spicy Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
Watch How to Make It
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This blog post was originally published in December 2018 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs
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Ingredients
- 5 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 10 slices bacon
- 2 teaspoons (4g) Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon (2g) paprika
- 1 teaspoon (2g) white or black pepper
- 1-2 teaspoons (3g) minced garlic
- ½ tablespoon (4g) onion powder
- ¼-½ teaspoon (.5-1g) cayenne
- 2 tablespoons oil
- Chopped parsley to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (205℃). Line a baking pan with parchment or foil paper; set aside.
- If the chicken thighs are too large, you may cut them in half or thirds, especially if making them as a party appetizer. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix the Italian seasoning, paprika, white pepper, garlic, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and oil. Rub each piece of chicken with spice mix.
- Next, wrap a chicken thigh around the middle with a couple of slices of bacon, tucking the ends underneath or securing them with a toothpick.
- Lay the wrapped chicken on a prepared baking sheet with the bacon seam-side down. Repeat with all the chicken thighs.
- Bake until the thighs reach an internal temperature of 165°F (75℃) on an instant-read thermometer. It usually takes 30-35 minutes.
Tips & Notes:
- For extra crispy bacon, you can broil it for an additional 1-2 minutes. Rotate the chicken to get a good even crust.
- For even cooking, make sure every piece of chicken is roughly the same size, even if you use a cut other than thighs.
- Debone your chicken thighs for any chicken thigh recipe for quicker cooking.
- Make cleanup easy by lining your baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
- Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.
lillian says
Turned out wonderful. It was a big hit.Thanks for the recipe