Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders
Bacon-wrapped chicken tenders coated in a caramelized brown sugar spice rub. Sweet, smoky, and weeknight-easy.
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Servings:
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 lb chicken tenderloins
- 12 oz bacon
- 0.75 cup packed brown sugar
- 1.5 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 0.75 tsp kosher salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 0.25 tsp cayenne pepper add more for extra heat
- 1 tbsp olive oil for brushing the rack
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley for garnish, optional
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed sheet pan with foil and set a wire rack on top.
- Brush the rack lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Stir brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne in a shallow bowl.
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels for better browning.
- Wrap each chicken tender with bacon, stretching it slightly so it hugs the meat.
- Press bacon-wrapped tenders into the sugar-spice mix, coating all sides.
- Arrange on the rack seam-side down, spacing evenly for airflow.
- Bake until bacon is browned and chicken reaches 165°F, about 22–25 minutes.
- Broil 1–2 minutes to crisp the bacon. Rest 5 minutes, then garnish with parsley.
Notes
Swap in a tablespoon of maple syrup for part of the brown sugar for a glossy glaze, or use chipotle powder for smoky heat. For an air fryer version, cook at 380°F for 14–16 minutes, turning once.
Leftovers keep up to 3 days refrigerated; reheat on a rack at 375°F for 8–10 minutes to re-crisp.
This recipe is an original creation inspired by classic Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders flavors. All ingredient ratios and instructions are independently developed.