Bacon wrapped chicken bites are a simple, four-ingredient appetizer that's perfect for parties, snacking, and Sunday football. They're easy to assemble and crowd-pleasing!
Recipe summary
Flavor: Savory, salty, peppery. Honey mustard adds tang and a hint of sweetness.
Few ingredients: All you need is chicken, bacon, honey mustard (optional), and pepper.
Yield: 21 bites
Great for: Football parties, snacking
You may also like: Bacon Jalapeño Poppers and BLT Dip
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Chicken - You'll need 8 ounces of boneless, skinless chicken breast, chicken tenderloins, or chicken thighs.
- Pepper - Adds a bit of flavor to the chicken before wrapping. There's no need for salt in this recipe because we're wrapping our chicken in salty bacon.
- Honey mustard - Can be substituted with dijon or yellow mustard if preferred.
- Bacon - You'll need about 7 slices of bacon, depending on the number of chicken cubes you create from the chicken breast.
- Baking sheet covered in foil - You'll also need a baking sheet covered in foil and topped with an oven-safe cooling rack. This part is important because it allows the bacon grease to drip off the bites while they cook. This method keeps your bites crispy and less greasy!
How to make chicken bites
- Slice bacon into thirds.
- Add optional honey mustard down each bacon slice, add cubed chicken seasoned with pepper. Wrap each chicken bite with bacon and secure with a toothpick.
- Place chicken bites on an oven-safe metal rack on a foil-lined baking sheet (to catch grease as your bites bake).
- Bake until chicken is cooked through in the center to 165F.
- If bacon isn't yet crispy on the outside, turn on the broiler and broil for 1-2 minutes per side, flipping halfway through.
- Bacon should look crispy around the edges and cooked through.
Tips and tricks
Test bacon length - Do a test with a single slice of bacon. Slice it into thirds and attempt to wrap your chicken bites before slicing the entire pack of bacon. Shorter bacon, like center cut, may require a half slice to cover each chicken cube.
Assembly - Lay out your bacon, add honey mustard on top, then place a chicken cube at one end of the bacon. Season chicken with pepper, then roll the chicken in the bacon and secure with a toothpick.
Broil for crispy bacon - Don't skip the broiling steps. This helps ensure that bacon turns out nice and crispy on the outside.
Frequently asked questions
For a dinner party with a main course, you'll need about 6 bite-sized appetizers per person. If you're hosting a finger-food only party, you'll need about 8-12 per person.
For more detailed information, check out this article: How Many Appetizers To Serve Per Person
No, this recipe cooks the bacon and chicken at the same time. There's no need to cook your bacon first. Make sure your chicken pieces are cut into large, 1 inch cubes so that they cook at the same rate as the bacon.
Yes, chicken bites are easy to customize with other condiments like barbecue sauce, dijon mustard, or no sauce at all for plain chicken bites.
Chicken bites can be assembled up to a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator until ready to bake. I recommend serving your bites immediately after baking for best flavor and texture.
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📖 Recipe
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites
Ingredients
- 8 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast
- 7 slices bacon
- 5 teaspoons honey mustard
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400℉. Line a baking sheet with foil and place an oven-safe cooling rack on top. This helps drain and catch grease from your bites as they bake. Set aside.
- Slice chicken into bite size cubes, about 1" in size. Slice bacon into thirds.
- Add honey mustard down the middle of each bacon slice, then lay a chicken cube at one end of the bacon. Lightly season chicken with pepper, then wrap your chicken in the bacon, securing with a toothpick. Place bites onto prepared baking sheet with cooling rack.
- Bake for about 17-18 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through in the center (your bacon won't look crispy yet). Test with a meat thermometer - chicken is done at 165℉.
- Turn off the oven and turn on the broiler. Broil for 1-2 minutes, or until tops of your bites are crispy and lightly browned. Do not take your eyes off your bites because the broiler can burn food quickly.
- Remove from oven and carefully turn each bite over. Return to the oven and broil for another 1-2 minutes, or until second side is lightly browned and crispy.
- Remove from oven and serve warm. Optionally, serve with more honey mustard as a dipping sauce.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Mustard variations: Honey mustard can be substituted with yellow or dijon mustard, or omitted entirely.
- Optional broiling: Broiling steps are based on how crunchy and cooked your bacon looks. If your bacon is already cooked through and crunchy, broiling step can be skipped.
- Soak toothpicks: If you're concerned about toothpicks burning in the oven, soak them in water for 20 minutes before assembling your bites. The added moisture helps prevent the wood from burning in the oven.
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