Brown sugar and spices are used to season the chicken breasts in this bacon wrapped chicken. The chicken is then wrapped in bacon and baked until the bacon is crispy. An easy chicken dinner with only 10 minutes of prep time.
Bacon wrapped chicken breast looks so impressive, but requires very little effort. It’s great for a casual family dinner, yet looks fancy enough for company. It’s one of my favorite chicken dishes along with chicken adobo and rosemary chicken.
I have a household full of bacon and chicken lovers. A lot of the time, we have chicken for dinner, and this is one of our favorite chicken dishes. It only takes minutes to prep, then simply bake your chicken to crispy golden brown perfection and enjoy!.
This chicken goes great with sides like crispy brussels sprouts, smashed potatoes and honey glazed carrots. Add a couple of sides and make a great meal!.
Chicken and bacon are a dynamic duo. The smoky, salty bacon pairs perfectly with the mild, tender chicken. A classic way to combine these two proteins is chicken wrapped in bacon, baked or grilled until the bacon is crispy. But what if you only have leftover cooked chicken on hand? Can you wrap raw bacon around previously cooked chicken to recreate this tasty combo?
The short answer is no—raw bacon should not go on already cooked chicken The bacon needs to cook through fully to be safe to eat But read on for more details, safety concerns, and tips to enjoy bacon with cooked chicken in other crave-worthy ways.
Why Raw Bacon on Cooked Chicken is a No-Go
Wrapping uncooked bacon around cooked chicken can create food safety issues. The USDA recommends cooking pork to 145°F to kill potential bacteria and parasites. Raw or undercooked pork can harbor parasites like trichinella.
So even if the chicken is fully cooked bacteria from the raw bacon could transfer to the chicken if it’s wrapped around it. This creates the risk of illness if the bacon doesn’t reach a safe internal temperature.
The textures also won’t meld properly The cooked chicken will dry out and overcook as the bacon cooks And the bacon won’t adhere well to the chicken or get as crispy,
It’s best to cook the raw bacon first to keep it safe and make it taste good. Then incorporate it with the already cooked chicken in other ways.
How to Cook Chicken and Bacon Together
To enjoy crispy bacon and juicy chicken in one dish, cook them together from the start. Here are some safe and tasty cooking methods:
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Wrap raw chicken breasts or tenders in bacon. Bake or grill until the chicken is fully cooked and bacon is crispy.
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Make chicken cordon bleu: Stuff chicken breasts with ham and cheese, then wrap in bacon before baking.
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Sauté cubed raw chicken and bacon together in a skillet until cooked through.
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Skewer raw chicken and bacon slices on kebabs. Grill until cooked.
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Bake chicken topped with crumbled bacon so the bacon gets crispy.
Cooking the raw chicken and bacon together ensures both components reach a safe temperature and meld into bacon-wrapped perfection.
Serving Already Cooked Chicken with Bacon
If you only have leftover cooked chicken, all is not lost! There are other delicious ways to enjoy it with crispy, savory bacon:
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Crumble cooked bacon over a chicken salad or sandwich.
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Toss cubed cooked chicken and crumbled bacon with barbecue sauce for an appetizer.
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Top cooked chicken in a creamy pasta bake or casserole with crumbled bacon before baking.
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Sprinkle cooked, crumbled bacon over chicken soup.
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Skewer cubed cooked chicken and wrap bacon around the skewers. Grill or broil until the bacon is crisp.
With a little creativity, you can transform cooked chicken and bacon into enticing new dishes. The key is crisping the raw bacon separately first.
Tips for Safely Cooking Chicken and Bacon
When cooking chicken and bacon together, keep these safety tips in mind:
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Always cook raw chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to verify doneness.
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Cook raw bacon until it’s crisp. Bacon should reach 145°F internally.
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Don’t reuse marinades or sauces used on raw meats unless you boil them first.
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Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and use within 3-4 days.
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Wash hands, utensils, cutting boards, etc. after handling raw meats.
Following basic food safety guidelines will keep you and your family healthy when cooking chicken, bacon, and other raw meats.
While raw bacon wrapped around cooked chicken may seem convenient, it’s not considered safe. Always cook bacon fully before pairing it with cooked chicken. But with creative recipes, you can still enjoy the classic flavor pairing of crispy, salty bacon and juicy, tender chicken without taking risks. Next time chicken and bacon are on the menu, try a new cooking technique to serve up this crowd-pleasing combo safely.
HOW DO YOU MAKE BACON WRAPPED CHICKEN?
The best part of this baked bacon wrapped chicken is the seasoning. A bowl of brown sugar and different spices are mixed together and then rubbed on the chicken. The chicken is then wrapped in bacon and baked in the oven. It’s an extremely fast dinner to prepare and it will be eaten just as quickly.
Any type of chicken is fine for this recipe, such as thighs or drumsticks instead of breasts. It is important to make sure that every piece of chicken you cook is about the same size, no matter what kind you choose. For this recipe, you shouldn’t use thick-cut bacon because it will take a lot longer to cook.
If you like your bacon really crispy, you can broil your chicken for two to three minutes at the end of the cooking time. The sauce has sugar in it, so if you leave it to broil for too long, it will burn quickly. I think the extra work is worth it because the crispy bacon gives the dish the perfect texture.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN CHICKEN IS DONE?
The best way to tell if you chicken is cooked is by slicing it open. If it’s white all the way to the middle, then it’s done. A meat thermometer is very helpful, though, if you don’t want to cut into the chicken before serving it. Stick the thermometer through the middle of the chicken, stopping about midway through. The safe temperature you’re looking for is at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit or 75 degrees Celsius.
How To Make Bacon Wrapped Chicken| Bacon Wrapped Chicken
FAQ
Can you put raw bacon on cooked chicken?
Can you cook chicken and bacon together in the same pan?
Can you reheat chicken and bacon?
How long to cook real good bacon wrapped chicken?
How do you wrap raw chicken with bacon?
Wrap the raw chicken breast with bacon. Overlap the bacon slightly to cover the chicken completely. Each breast may need 2-3 pieces of bacon depending on the size. Try to tuck bacon ends under the chicken to prevent the bacon from unrolling. 5.
How long do you cook bacon wrapped chicken?
If desired, brush maple syrup over the bacon. Bake bacon wrapped chicken breasts in the oven for 18-20 minutes, until the chicken internal temperature reaches 163-165 degrees F (73-75 degrees C). (You can do slightly under 165 to keep it juicy if you like, as the internal temperature will rise a few degrees while resting.)
Can you cook chicken breast with bacon wrapped?
Make ahead: You can prep the chicken breasts with the spice rub and wrap them with bacon a day or so ahead. Just place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake them. Storing: Once they have cooled, store the Bacon Wrapped Chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Can You reheat bacon wrapped chicken?
Reheat: For crispy results that taste fresh, reheat oven baked chicken breast wrapped in bacon in the oven or in the air fryer, at 350 degrees F. The microwave won’t dry it out due to the bacon wrapping, but I don’t recommend it because the bacon won’t be crispy anymore. Freeze: You can freeze bacon wrapped chicken before or after baking.