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    Home / Recipes / Dinner / Bacon Wrapped Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    Bacon Wrapped Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    December 27, 2021 by Keto Cooking Christian 11 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, see Disclosure.
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    Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders with just 4 ingredients, have the most amazing combination of smokey, sweet and spicy flavors! They are perfect for game day and party appetizers.

    Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders on white plate with dipping sauce on side
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    Jump to:
    • What's in Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
    • How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
    • What Can I Serve with Bacon Wrapped Chicken?
    • Is Air Fryer Chicken Healthy?
    • Can I Use Chicken Breasts Instead of Chicken Tenders?
    • Can I Make Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders in Advance?
    • Can These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders be Made in the Oven?
    • More Keto Chicken Recipes

    Who doesn't love chicken tenders, right? They are quick and easy, and the kids love them. But, if you are wanting to take them to a whole new level, this Air Fryer Chicken Tender recipe is it! YES, this one is even for all of us "low carbers" out there!

    Juicy and tender bacon wrapped chicken tenders start with a sweet and spicy rub that's made with brown Swerve and dry BBQ spices. They are the wrapped with bacon and cooked right in the air fryer in under 15 minutes!

    holding up bacon wrapped chicken tender dipped in ranch dressing

    As the brown sweetener begins to heat, it creates just the right amount of stickiness that holds the bacon in place around the tenders. This amazing hint of sweetness perfectly balances out with the smoky spice from the homemade BBQ spice rub.

    Honestly, these Air Fryer Chicken Tenders very well may be the best you will ever make!

    Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders on white plate with dipping sauce on side

    This recipe for Bacon Wrapped Tenders makes the ultimate party appetizer for game day, or holiday get-togethers. Serve them just as they are or with your favorite dipping sauce like this sugar-free Homemade BBQ, Ranch Dressing or this Zesty Dipping Sauce.

    They aren't just great as appetizers! Serve them with a low carb salad or your favorite Keto side dish and you have an easy and delicious weeknight meal. Because the tenders cook in the air fryer, they're the perfect way to get a quick meal on the table without heating up your whole kitchen.

    What's in Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    • Chicken tenders
    • Uncured bacon
    • BBQ Spice Dry Rub
    • Brown Swerve

    *Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

    How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for about 5 minutes, while you prepare the chicken tenders.

    Add the BBQ dry rub and Brown Swerve in a small mixing bowl and whisk until well combined.

    chicken tenders bbq dry rub in spoon over glass bowl

    Pat your chicken tenders dry with a paper towel.

    Take each chicken tender and rub the spice mix on all sides. You will have a little left when you're done, just set that aside for now.

    4 chicken tenders with bbq rub on them

    Once all the chicken tenders have been coated, take a piece of bacon and wrap it around each piece.  Be sure to leave a little extra bacon on each end, so you can tuck then in. Take the remaining spice rub mixture and lightly rub the outside of the bacon with it.

    raw chicken tenders wrapped in raw bacon on rack

    Bake for 11-13 minutes or until the bacon is crisp and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F when checked with a meat thermometer. 

    bacon wrapped chicken tenders inside air fryer on racks

    Be sure to flip the chicken half way through cooking.

    Bacon Wrapped Air Fryer Chicken Tenders on white plate with ranch on side

    Baste with the chicken tender drippings! Serve and enjoy!

    Bacon Wrapped Air Fryer Chicken Tenders on white plate with ranch on side

    What Can I Serve with Bacon Wrapped Chicken?

    If you're making these bacon-wrapped tenders in the summer or for a quick lunch, you possibly want a cold side dish that you could even make in advance. Here are some great cold low carb options to consider:

    • Broccoli Salad with Bacon
    • Loaded Cauliflower Salad
    • Easy Cole Slaw
    • Cauliflower "Potato" Salad

    If you are wanting to serve these tenders as a hearty dinner or with a warm side dish, these are great recipes that will work perfectly with the flavors in the chicken tenders:

    • Ranch Roasted Cauliflower Casserole
    • Shredded Brussels Sprouts
    • Grilled Broccolini
    • Keto Broccoli Alredo
    • Green Beans Almondine
    holding up bacon wrapped chicken tender dipped in ranch dressing

    Is Air Fryer Chicken Healthy?

    Most of the time, chicken tenders are breaded and fried in some sort of vegetable oil. With cooking them in the air fryer, no oil is required, which makes them a much healthier option.

    You won't miss out on the flavor from the oil either. The bacon that these tenders are wrapped in gives the chicken the most mouth-watering flavor, so much more flavorful that oil, and healthier too!

    closeup of bacon wrapped chicken tender with bite taken out

    Can I Use Chicken Breasts Instead of Chicken Tenders?

    While you certainly cut chicken breasts into tenderloin size slices, there are a couple of differences in using tenderloins verses sliced chicken breasts.

    The biggest difference you'll notice between a chicken tenderloin and chicken breast is the tenderloins are much more tender.

    Even though both come from the breast area of the chicken, tenders are right next to the ribs and are a less dense meat. Because tenderloins less dense, they cook faster than chicken breast.

    6 raw chicken tenders on white cutting board

    Can I Make Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders in Advance?

    Yes, you can! In fact, if you are wanting to make a good many of these for an upcoming party or get-together, just cook several batches and place them in an airtight container in the fridge.

    You'll the bacon to have that original sweet glistening look before serving. The best way to do that is to stick them back in the air fryer for just a couple of minutes until the chicken and bacon is heated through.

    Can These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders be Made in the Oven?

    Absolutely! If you don't have an air fryer or would just rather cook them in your oven, you can easily determine the time and temperature using this oven to air fryer conversion guide!

    Bacon Wrapped Air Fryer Chicken Tenders on white plate with ranch on side

    More Keto Chicken Recipes

    • Thai Red Curry Coconut Grilled Chicken
    • Grilled Chicken with Rosemary Citrus Glaze
    • Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole
    • Creamy Chicken Tuscan Skillet
    • Bacon Ranch Chicken Casserole
    • Chicken Florentine Skillet
    • Instant Pot Chicken Marsala
    • Creamy Chicken Poblano Chicken
    Bacon Wrapped Air Fryer Chicken Tenders pin
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    Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders on white plate with dipping sauce on side

    Bacon Wrapped Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders with just 4 ingredients, have the most amazing combination of smokey, sweet and spicy flavors! They are perfect for game day and party appetizers.
    4.80 from 5 votes
    Author: Julianne
    Servings 6
    Print Pin
    Save RecipeSaved!
    PREP 10 minutes mins
    COOK 12 minutes mins
    TOTAL 22 minutes mins

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 ½ pounds chicken tenders
    • 1 pound uncured bacon
    • ⅓ cup BBQ Spice Dry Rub
    • 1 tablespoon Brown Swerve

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for about 5 minutes, while you prepare the chicken tenders.
    • Add the BBQ dry rub and Brown Swerve in a small mixing bowl and whisk until well combined.
    • Pat your chicken tenders dry with a paper towel.
    • Take each chicken tender and rub the spice mix on all sides. You will have a little left when you're done, just set that aside for now.
    • Once all the chicken tenders have been coated, take a piece of bacon and wrap it around each piece. Be sure to leave a little extra bacon on each end, so you can tuck then in. Take the remaining spice rub mixture and lightly rub the outside of the bacon with it.
    • Bake for 11-13 minutes or until the bacon is crisp and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F when checked with a meat thermometer. Be sure to flip the chicken half way through cooking.
    • Baste with the chicken tender drippings. Serve with a side of ranch dressing, zesty dipping sauce or your favorite sauce.

    *Make sure to scroll up and read the post for substitutions, additions and helpful tips for making this recipe.

    Course Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Calories 353kcal
    Nutrition Facts
    Bacon Wrapped Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    353
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    15
    g
    23
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    7
    g
    44
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    1
    g
    0
    %
    Protein
     
    40
    g
    80
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    *Nutritional data is provided as a courtesy and is accurate to the best of my knowledge. You can verify it using the nutrition calculator of your choice. All data is based on net carbs, without sugar alcohol: Swerve, Erythritol, Monk Fruit or Allulose.

    © Copyright for Keto Cooking Christian LLC. Please use the share buttons to share on social media, but please do not copy/paste the recipe.

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    Filed Under: 30 Minutes or Less, Air Fryer, Bacon, Chicken, Dinner, Posts, Recipes

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.80 from 5 votes (1 rating without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Cici

      January 16, 2022 at 1:10 am

      5 stars
      Delicious! Added jalepeno slices beneath the bacon.

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        January 16, 2022 at 5:24 pm

        That sounds great! I like a little heat also so I bet that would be good.

        Reply
    2. Jane

      December 29, 2021 at 6:29 pm

      Can I just cook in my oven?

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        December 30, 2021 at 9:19 am

        Sure you can! I would cook them on a wire rack, use the same temperature and flip them half way through. Depending on the size of your tenders, they should take about 25-30 minutes or until they reach 165°F.

        Reply
    3. Deb C

      December 29, 2021 at 6:12 pm

      5 stars
      These were amazing, thank you!

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        December 29, 2021 at 6:13 pm

        I'm glad you enjoyed them!

        Reply
    4. Barb

      December 29, 2021 at 6:09 pm

      5 stars
      Delish!!

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        December 29, 2021 at 6:09 pm

        Thanks 🙂

        Reply
    5. Keto Cooking Christian

      December 29, 2021 at 5:58 pm

      You're so welcome, glad you liked them!

      Reply
    6. Isabel

      December 29, 2021 at 5:51 pm

      4 stars
      I made these tonight for dinner and they were delicious! I definitely will be adding this to the recipe box.

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        December 29, 2021 at 5:57 pm

        That's great, I'm glad you enjoyed them!

        Reply

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    Julianne Walser KCC

    I'm Julianne, welcome! I offer tasty and indulgent Keto and Low Carb recipes that will never leave you feeling deprived!

    More about me →

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