Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast Recipe (Juicy Inside, Crispy Bacon Every Time)
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Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast is one of the easiest ways to get juicy chicken and crispy bacon at the same time. If you’ve ever struggled with undercooked bacon or dry chicken, this method fixes both. I’ll show you the exact time and temperature so it turns out perfect every single time.
I love the bacon wrapped around these chicken breasts, but I’ll be honest, not everyone in my family actually eats it. Some peel it off, and that’s totally fine.
Whether you enjoy the bacon or skip it, it still does an important job. It helps lock in moisture while the chicken cooks so you end up with tender, juicy chicken every time. That’s one of my favorite tricks for keeping chicken from drying out, just like in my Rotisserie Chicken Ritz Cracker Casserole and Crockpot BBQ Chicken.
If you’re looking for more easy, family-friendly dinners like this, you might also want to check out my Chicken Enchilada Casserole or Creamy Canned Chicken Noodle Casserole. They’re all simple recipes that come together quickly and always turn out flavorful.
Table of contents
- How Long to Cook Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer
- Key to Success #1 – No Thick Cut Bacon
- Key to Success #2 – Secure Bacon with Toothpicks
- Key to Success #3 – Check Temp With an Instant Read Thermometer
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Save this Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast recipe to your favorite Air Fryer Recipes board or your Easy Chicken Recipes board.
- More Easy Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
How Long to Cook Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer
Getting the timing right is the key to juicy chicken and perfectly crispy bacon. The sweet spot is high heat with just enough time to cook the chicken through without drying it out.
Cook at 370°F for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the bacon is crisp.
Quick Time Guide
- Small chicken breasts (5–6 oz): 14–16 minutes
- Medium chicken breasts (7–8 oz): 15–18 minutes
- Large chicken breasts (9 oz+): 18–22 minutes
Tips for Perfect Results
- Flip halfway through cooking so the bacon crisps evenly on all sides
- Use a meat thermometer to check for 165°F in the thickest part
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer or the bacon won’t crisp properly
- If the bacon isn’t as crispy as you like, air fry 2–3 more minutes at the end
If your chicken breasts are extra thick, you can also butterfly them or pound them slightly for more even cooking.
Key to Success #1 – No Thick Cut Bacon
While I love thick-cut bacon as much as the next person, it’s not a great choice for bacon-wrapped chicken breasts.
Thick-cut bacon would not have enough time to get crispy before the chicken was fully cooked.
You would risk overcooking the chicken or ending up with undercooked bacon.
Choose high-quality thin cut bacon, or regular cut bacon, for this easy air fryer recipe.
Use two or three slices of bacon per chicken breast.
The number of bacon slices will depend on the size of the breasts.
You want to fully cover the chicken breasts with bacon if at all possible.
More bacon coverage means juicier chicken breasts.
Key to Success #2 – Secure Bacon with Toothpicks
While this step is optional, following it will result in a prettier end result.
As you wrap each slice of bacon around the chicken breast, secure the end with a toothpick.
If the bacon is not secured, the powerful fan in the air fryer may make the edges come loose and get overly browned.
When I make bacon-wrapped chicken breasts, I seldom secure the bacon with a toothpick.
I wrap the bacon and try to make sure each slice of bacon ends underneath the chicken or at least as far to the side as possible.
Key to Success #3 – Check Temp With an Instant Read Thermometer
The easiest way to know when the chicken is fully cooled is by checking with an instant-read meat thermometer.
Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
If your chicken breasts are on the smaller side, consider starting to check them after cooking for about 16 minutes.
Average-sized chicken breasts normally cook in 18 to 20 minutes.
You can also flip the chicken breasts after 10 minutes if you would prefer.
If you flip the chicken, be extra gentle so that the bacon does not come loose.
I usually do not flip the chicken unless the bacon on the bottom looks like it needs a little extra time
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, bacon wrapped chicken breast cooks perfectly in the air fryer. The hot circulating air helps cook the chicken evenly while the bacon crisps up on the outside.
Cook bacon wrapped chicken breast at 370°F for 18 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
For this recipe, cook at 370°F. This allows the chicken to cook through evenly while giving the bacon time to crisp without burning.
Yes, flipping halfway through cooking helps the bacon cook evenly and crisp on all sides.
Wrapping the chicken in bacon helps lock in moisture as it cooks. Be sure not to overcook it—use a meat thermometer and remove it once it reaches 165°F.
If your bacon isn’t crispy, it could be because:
The chicken breasts are thick and need more time
The air fryer is overcrowded
You’re using thick-cut bacon
You can cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes at the end if needed.
You can, but thick-cut bacon has a hard time getting crispy without overcooking the chicken. I’ve tried it this way and it does keep the chicken moist and juicy, but the bacon was not as crispy as I would have liked. Regular-cut bacon works best for this recipe.
It’s best to use thawed chicken so it cooks evenly. Frozen chicken can result in uneven cooking and less crispy bacon.
Yes. You can season the chicken before wrapping it in bacon or brush it with BBQ sauce or a brown sugar glaze during the last few minutes of cooking.
Save this Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast recipe to your favorite Air Fryer Recipes board or your Easy Chicken Recipes board.
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 12-16 slices of bacon
- salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
- Preheat air fryer to 370 degrees F.
- Trim chicken breasts, season them well, then wrap 2-3 slices of bacon around each chicken breast. Try to cover the entire chicken with the bacon.
- Place bacon-covered chicken breasts into the air fryer basket, making sure not to overlap them.
- Cook 18-20 minutes until a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the chicken breasts reads 165 degrees F. Turn over halfway through cooking if desired.
Notes
- Turning the chicken over is optional. If there is not a lot of room between the chicken breasts, I would recommend turning them over. But turn them carefully so that the bacon doesn’t fall off.
- You can use toothpicks to secure the bacon if desired. I usually skip this step because most people in my family don’t actually eat the bacon.
- Even if you do not eat the bacon, it keeps your chicken nice and juicy and adds extra flavor. Highly recommend.
Equipment
Nutrition Facts
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More Easy Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
If you love quick dinners like this air fryer bacon-wrapped chicken, here are a few more easy recipes that come together fast and always turn out delicious.
I used what I would call normal sized chicken breasts. I had to cook them for at least double this time. After I cut them in half.