If you are looking for a simple dinner that feels restaurant worthy, this Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast is the perfect recipe. Juicy chicken breasts are wrapped in smoky bacon and air fried until the bacon is crispy and the chicken is tender and flavorful. It is an easy weeknight meal that pairs well with everything from roasted vegetables to mashed potatoes.
The air fryer cooks the chicken evenly while crisping the bacon without making a mess on the stovetop. With just a handful of ingredients, this recipe comes together quickly and is perfect for busy nights.
Whether you’re cooking for guests, meal prepping for the week, or just want to upgrade your usual chicken breast, this recipe is packed with flavor and requires minimal effort.
Check out even more Air Fryer Chicken Recipes!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
As someone who tests air fryer recipes weekly like this Air Fryer Chicken Breast or this Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu, I can confidently say this is one of those set-it-and-forget-it meals that feels fancy but is secretly fuss-free.
- The air fryer cooks the chicken evenly while keeping it juicy.
- Wrapping the chicken in bacon helps lock in moisture.
- The bacon becomes crispy without the need for extra oil.
- It uses simple ingredients that are easy to find.
- Ready in about 30 minutes, making it perfect for weeknight dinners.
- Pairs well with a variety of side dishes for an easy meal.
🛒 Ingredients Needed
Here’s everything you need to make these easy bacon-wrapped chicken breasts:
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts – Lean chicken breasts become juicy and tender in the air fryer.
- 4 slices of bacon – thin or regular cut works best
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder – for flavor - instead of making a spice blend just use your favorite store bought one
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika – adds color and depth
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt (optional) – depending on how salty your bacon is
- Olive oil spray – to help crisp things up in the air fryer
🔄 Substitution Tips
- Turkey bacon – works if you want a leaner option, though it won’t crisp as much
- Seasoning swap – try Italian seasoning, Cajun spice, or a little brown sugar for a sweet-savory twist
- Add cheese – insert a slice of mozzarella or cream cheese into the chicken before wrapping for a stuffed version
How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Chicken in the Air Fryer
Step 1: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3–5 minutes.
Step 2: Season the chicken with garlic powder, paprika, pepper, and salt.
Step 3 Wrap each chicken breast with 2 slices of bacon, slightly overlapping to secure. Start at one end and wrap tightly around the breast.
Step 4 Spray the bacon lightly with olive oil spray. This helps it get golden and crispy.
Step 5 Place chicken breasts in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook at 375°F for 18–20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Chicken is done when it reaches 165°F internally and the bacon is crisp.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Pro Tips for Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast
- Use chicken breasts that are similar in size so they cook evenly.
- Thin-cut bacon crisps better than thick-cut bacon in the air fryer.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to avoid overcooking the chicken.
- Let the chicken rest before slicing to keep the juices inside.
- If your chicken breasts are very thick, pound them to an even thickness before wrapping with bacon.
Storage
Store leftover bacon-wrapped chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To freeze, let the chicken cool completely before wrapping each piece individually in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 4 to 6 minutes, or until heated through and the bacon is crispy again.
Serving Suggestions
This bacon wrapped chicken breast pairs well with a variety of side dishes.
- Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
- Blackstone Asparagus
- Steamed broccoli
- Garlic green beans
- Mashed potatoes
- Caesar salad
- Ina Garten Mac and Cheese
- Rice pilaf
- Dinner rolls
- Corn on the cob
Recipe FAQS
Yes! You can wrap the chicken in bacon up to 24 hours in advance and store it in the fridge. Cook when ready.
You can freeze the uncooked wrapped chicken and air fry directly from frozen — just add 5–8 more minutes of cook time.
Spray lightly with oil, avoid thick-cut bacon, and don’t overcrowd the basket so the air can circulate.
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Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 18 min
- Total Time: 23 min
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Easy
- Method: air fryer
- Cuisine: American
Description
Looking for a simple yet impressive dinner idea? This Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast delivers juicy, tender chicken wrapped in perfectly crispy bacon — and it’s ready in under 25 minutes!
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 4 slices of bacon
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt (optional)
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3–5 minutes.
- Season the chicken with garlic powder, paprika, pepper, and salt.
- Wrap each chicken breast with 2 slices of bacon, slightly overlapping to secure. Start at one end and wrap tightly around the breast.
- Spray the bacon lightly with olive oil spray. This helps it get golden and crispy.
- Place chicken breasts in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook at 375°F for 18–20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Chicken is done when it reaches 165°F internally and the bacon is crisp.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use regular cut bacon — thick-cut won’t crisp as well in the same time.
- For extra juicy chicken, pound your chicken breasts to even thickness before seasoning.
- WW points 4-6
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 271mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 30g
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