Description
These Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites combine tender chicken breast pieces wrapped in crispy bacon and coated with rich dark brown sugar for a perfectly sweet and savory appetizer. Easy to prep and bake to perfection, they make a crowd-pleasing snack or party appetizer with a beautiful caramelized crust and juicy interior.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts (boneless and skinless, cut into 1 inch cubes)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
- 12 slices bacon (thin cut, cut into halves or thirds)
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar (packed)
- 1 tablespoon parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to get it ready for baking the chicken bites.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil to prevent sticking and ease cleanup. Place a cooling rack on top of the foil-lined baking sheet to allow air circulation under the chicken bites for even crisping.
- Season Chicken: Season the chicken cubes evenly with salt and pepper to enhance their flavor.
- Wrap Chicken with Bacon: Cut each slice of bacon into halves or thirds depending on thickness (this recipe uses thirds). Wrap each chicken cube with a piece of bacon ensuring it covers the chicken well. No toothpicks are needed as the bacon will cling tightly.
- Coat with Brown Sugar: Roll each bacon wrapped chicken bite in the packed dark brown sugar to coat it thoroughly, providing a sweet caramelized crust once baked.
- Arrange and Season: Place the sugar-coated bites on the prepared baking rack on the sheet. Lightly season again with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes or until the bacon is nicely crisp and the internal temperature of chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Begin checking doneness at 30 minutes to avoid overcooking.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and garnish with chopped parsley for a fresh burst of color and flavor. Serve warm for best taste.
Notes
- Bacon Choice: Thinner slices of bacon work best to get crispy without overcooking the chicken inside.
- Sugar Swap: Dark brown sugar offers a rich molasses flavor, but light brown or granulated sugar can be used if preferred.
- Cooking Time: Oven temperatures vary, so check internal temperature starting at 30 minutes. Chicken must reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Freezer-Friendly: These bites can be assembled and frozen for up to 3 months. Increase baking time when cooking from frozen.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 bites
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
