Bacon-Wrapped BBQ Chicken
Equipment
- Air fryer basket
- Knife
Ingredients
- 2 small skinless chicken breasts or 1 large chicken breast cut in half lengthways
- 4 –6 rashers smoked streaky bacon
- 3 tablespoons barbecue sauce
- 40 g cheddar cheese grated
- Vegetables to serve
- Potato wedges to serve
- Tomato sauce to serve
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 190°C.
- Wrap the chicken breasts with the smoked streaky bacon rashers, winding them around the chicken widthways.
- If the chicken breasts are very thick, cook them in the air fryer for 10 minutes before continuing. For thinner chicken breasts, continue directly with the next step.
- Brush the bacon-wrapped chicken all over with the barbecue sauce and scatter the grated cheddar cheese over the top.
- Cook in the air fryer for a further 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese has melted. If using thicker chicken breasts that were precooked for 10 minutes, allow approximately 15 minutes for this final cooking stage.
- Serve hot with vegetables, potato wedges and tomato sauce.
Notes & Wine Advice
Serving Advice
Serve the Bacon-Wrapped BBQ Chicken straight from the air fryer while the cheddar is hot and melted. Potato wedges and vegetables turn it into an easy Dinner, while a crisp salad is a good alternative if you prefer a lighter side dish.Storage Advice
Allow leftover chicken to cool before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 2 days and reheat thoroughly before serving. The air fryer is ideal for reheating because it helps the bacon regain some of its texture. Browse our Store Food recipes for more storage-friendly ideas.Wine Advice
A fruity Zinfandel is a particularly good partner for this dish. Its generous fruit character works with the sweet and smoky barbecue sauce, while its fuller flavour stands up well to the bacon, cheddar and chicken.Nutrition values
————————————————————————————————–
About this recipe
Bacon-Wrapped BBQ Chicken combines several big flavours in one surprisingly simple air fryer dish. Tender chicken is wrapped in smoky streaky bacon, brushed generously with barbecue sauce and topped with grated cheddar cheese. The result is juicy chicken surrounded by savoury bacon with a sticky barbecue coating and a layer of melted cheese on top.
The recipe requires very little preparation, making it particularly useful when you want a satisfying dinner without spending much time in the kitchen. Most of the work consists of wrapping the chicken, brushing it with sauce and adding the cheese. The Airfryer handles the rest.
Cooking bacon-wrapped chicken in the air fryer
The thickness of the chicken breasts is important when determining the cooking time. Thick chicken breasts need an initial 10 minutes in the air fryer before the barbecue sauce and cheese are added. Thinner pieces can move directly to the sauce and cheese stage. This prevents the toppings from cooking for too long while the centre of a thick piece of chicken is still coming up to temperature.
Wrapping the chicken widthways with smoked streaky bacon adds flavour while also helping protect the surface of the chicken during cooking. The barbecue sauce brings sweetness, acidity and smoky flavour, while cheddar provides a rich finish. If this combination appeals to you, explore our Bacon recipes and Chicken recipes for more ideas.
The final cooking time can vary slightly depending on the thickness of the chicken and the particular air fryer being used. Rather than relying solely on time, always check that the chicken is completely cooked before serving.
An easy chicken dinner with plenty of flavour
Potato wedges and vegetables are simple accompaniments and turn the chicken into a complete Main Course. Tomato sauce can be served alongside as suggested in the original recipe, although the barbecue-coated chicken already provides plenty of flavour. A fresh salad is another good option when you want something lighter alongside the rich bacon and cheese.
The combination also makes this dish suitable for a casual family meal or a relaxed weekend dinner. For more quick everyday ideas, browse our Quick Dinner collection.
Leftovers should be cooled and refrigerated promptly. When reheating, make sure the chicken is heated thoroughly throughout. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides additional information about safe preparation, cooking and storage of food at home.
Bacon-Wrapped BBQ Chicken is ultimately about getting maximum flavour from a short ingredient list. Smoky bacon, tangy barbecue sauce and melted cheddar transform simple chicken breasts into a hearty air fryer meal that requires only a few minutes of hands-on preparation.