Description
A delicious and easy recipe for bacon wrapped chicken thighs seasoned with a flavorful blend of garlic, paprika, and cayenne pepper, baked to perfection with a crispy, caramelized bacon exterior and juicy chicken inside. Perfect for a comforting dinner served with mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Scale
Seasoning Mix
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (or substitute with more paprika)
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Black pepper to taste
Main Ingredients
- 4 large chicken thigh fillets (about 5oz / 150g each), cut in half
- 8 pieces streaky bacon
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp olive oil (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F) fan forced or convection for even cooking and crispy results.
- Prepare baking tray: Line a baking tray with baking paper to prevent sticking and facilitate easy cleanup.
- Mix seasonings: In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, flour, salt, and black pepper. Place brown sugar in a separate bowl.
- Season and wrap chicken: Coat each chicken piece in the seasoning mix, shaking off any excess. Lay a piece of bacon down, place the seasoned chicken on one end, and roll the bacon tightly around the chicken, finishing with the seam side down. Repeat for all pieces.
- Coat with brown sugar: Rub the brown sugar evenly over the bacon-wrapped chicken pieces using your fingers to ensure good coverage.
- Optional oil drizzle: Drizzle olive oil over the bacon-wrapped chicken to help promote browning and a beautiful golden color.
- Bake: Place the prepared chicken on the baking tray and bake for 25 minutes. Check the bacon; if it needs more crispiness, switch on the broiler (grill) for a few minutes to achieve your preferred level of browning.
- Glaze and serve: Use a brush to coat the bacon with the pan juices to make it glossy and juicy. Serve the bacon wrapped chicken hot, ideally on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, drizzled with the extra pan juices for added flavor.
Notes
- Note 1: Chicken thighs are recommended because they stay juicy during cooking, but chicken breasts can be used if preferred.
- Note 2: Use streaky bacon for best flavor and crispiness; avoid thick-cut bacon as it may require longer cooking.
- Note 3: Using a fan forced or convection oven ensures even cooking and better browning of the bacon.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: bacon wrapped chicken, baked chicken thighs, crispy bacon chicken, easy chicken dinner, chicken recipe with bacon, oven baked chicken
