These bacon wrapped chicken thighs are seasoned with spices, stuffed with garlic butter and wrapped in bacon and baked until caramelized. They are quick to put together and loaded with flavor, making for a great weeknight meal.
I know this isn't a popular opinion with everyone but I'm a huge fan of chicken thighs - from Roman chicken to apple cider chicken to easy chicken tikka masala, they are easy to prepare and have so much flavor.
I'm also a big fan of bacon. So why not combine the two with these bacon chicken thighs.
By rubbing the chicken and bacon in some sugar with spices, you get a slight sweetness that is offset by the saltiness of the bacon. And the garlic butter on the inside just adds to the juiciness and flavors of the dish.
Oh and it doesn't hurt that this is quite easy to prepare. Just 10 minutes of prep and you'll have dinner on the table in under an hour.
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Why You Will Love This Chicken
- Juicy and tender - The chicken thighs stay moist and tender as the bacon fat renders, locking in juiciness.
- Crispy texture - Bacon adds a crispy, savory layer around the chicken, making each bite satisfying.
- Customizable - You can easily add herbs, spices, cheese or a glaze (like honey or barbecue sauce) to enhance the flavors.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken - Use skinless, boneless thighs for easier wrapping and even cooking. Thighs remain juicy and tender when cooked, making them ideal for wrapping in bacon. Chicken breasts can be used as well but you'll need to pound thin. Just keep in mind the cooking time will vary as well.
- Spice mixture - A mix of sugar, paprika, gonion powder, salt, and pepper works well to enhance the chicken flavor. A dash of smoked paprika adds a smoky depth that pairs well with the bacon.
- Garlic butter mixture - By stuffing the chicken with some butter and garlic, you add flavor but also keep they chicken juicy.
- Bacon - Opt for thin-cut bacon, which crisps up better and wraps around the chicken more easily. Thick-cut bacon can make it harder to cook through without overcooking the chicken.
Ingredient Swaps
Like any meal you can use a variety of ingredients and this dish is no different.
- Meat - While bacon is the best, prosciutto is a good substitute.
- Cheese - Instead of butter and garlic, you could stuff the chicken with your favorite cheese like mozzarella or cheddar.
- Veggies - You can also stuff with something like green onions or peppers.
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs
Please note full ingredient list and instructions can be found in recipe card below.
Step 1: Combine all of the spices and sugar in a bowl and set aside.
Step 2: Mix together the softened butter and garlic in another bowl.
Step 3: Rub half of the spice mixture over the chicken and open up each thigh, spreading about 1 tablespoon of the garlic butter.
Step 4: Roll them back up and wrap with 2 slices of bacon, one horizontal and one vertical. Sprinkle remaining spice mixture on top.
Step 5: Place the chicken on a rack over a baking sheet.
Step 6: Bake at 400°F for 35-40 minutes or until cooked through. Broil for an additional 1-2 minutes to get the bacon extra crispy.
Recipe FAQs
You can but you'll have to pound it thinner and the cooking time will change. It will need an extra 5-10 minutes.
Prosciutto or pancetta are good alternatives, as they’re thinner and will also crisp nicely. However, they may cook faster, so monitor closely to prevent burning.
First, don't use thick cut bacon as it takes longer. Second, broiling it gets it crispy. Sometimes you need to flip the chicken and broil the bottom as well to get both sides crispy.
Yes! Prepare the chicken thighs and wrap them in bacon, then refrigerate for up to 24 hours before cooking. This can enhance the flavors as the seasoning has more time to marinate the chicken.
To reheat, place the chicken in a 350°F oven for 10–15 minutes or in an air fryer at the same temperature for 5–8 minutes to keep the bacon crisp. For faster reheating, use the microwave, though the bacon may not stay as crispy.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Use same-sized chicken so everything cooks evenly.
- Use thin-cut bacon for easier wrapping and better crispiness; thick-cut can be hard to cook through evenly.
- You can also just place the chicken in an oven-safe skillet like a cast iron skillet.
- Avoid overcooking by checking that the internal temperature reaches 165°F, keeping the chicken juicy and tender.
- You can make the dish in advance and just throw in the oven when ready for dinner.
Other Recommended Chicken Recipes
If you’ve tried this bacon wrapped chicken thighs recipe or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 6 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 12 slices bacon
- non-stick cooking spray
- fresh Italian parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and a rack coated in cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper and onion powder. In another bowl, mix together the softened butter and garlic.
- Rub half of the spice mixture all over the chicken thighs. Open up each thigh, and spread 1 tablespoon of the garlic butter in the middle. Roll the thighs back up. Wrap each thigh tightly with 2 slices of bacon, having one horizontal and one vertical. Sprinkle the remaining spice mixture over the bacon.
- Place the chicken on the wire rack and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until cooked through. Broil for an additional 1-2 minutes to get the bacon crispy.
Notes
- Use same-sized chicken so everything cooks evenly.
- Use thin-cut bacon for easier wrapping and better crispiness; thick-cut can be hard to cook through evenly.
- You can also just place the chicken in an oven-safe skillet like a cast iron skillet.
- Avoid overcooking by checking that the internal temperature reaches 165°F, keeping the chicken juicy and tender.
- You can make the dish in advance and just throw in the oven when ready for dinner.
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