Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites with Avocado Dipping Sauce
Table of Contents
Why this recipe works
You’ll love this recipe because:
They’re easy to prepare. They are incredibly easy to prepare, requiring just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time. This makes them ideal for busy weeknights or last-minute appetizers.
They’re versatile. These chicken bites are versatile and can be served with a variety of dipping sauces, allowing you to customize the dish to suit your preferences or those of your guests. You can serve them with BBQ sauce, honey mustard, ranch, sweet and sour sauce, or even teriyaki sauce.
They’re gluten-free! These bacon wrapped chicken bites are naturally gluten-free, which makes them great for those who have celiac disease or a gluten intolerance.
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Bacon – Use regular cut bacon for the perfect balance of crispiness and chewiness. Avoid thick-cut bacon as it takes longer to cook and by the time it crisps up in the oven, your chicken bites will be overcooked and dry.
- Chicken Breast – Opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cut them into uniform 1-inch cubes to ensure even cooking. You can also use chicken thighs if you prefer dark meat.
- Brown Sugar – Light or dark brown sugar can be used.
- Paprika – Both regular and smoked paprika work well in this recipe, adding a subtle smoky flavor.
When wrapping the chicken, make sure the bacon ends are tucked underneath to prevent unraveling during baking. Alternatively, you can secure the bacon to the chicken with toothpicks or appetizer picks.
Step-by-Step instructions
These bacon wrapped chicken bites make a great appetizer for any occasion because they are so simple to make. The below photos with matching steps are not meant to be the full instructions, but are there to help you see the recipe made at various stages. Pay special attention to the size of the chicken cubes, how to roll up the chicken bites and the spacing on the baking sheet.
For the ingredient list with measurements, full instructions, printable recipe, and additional notes, please scroll down to the recipe card.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the chicken bites up to a day in advance. Wrap the seasoned chicken bites with bacon, place them on the prepared baking sheet or in a casserole dish, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to bake.
These chicken bites pair well with a variety of dipping sauces such as honey mustard, barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, or a spicy sriracha mayo.
Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F.
expert tips
Storage instructions
- Storage: Store any leftover bacon-wrapped chicken bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: Reheat the chicken bites in a preheated oven at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, or until heated through and the bacon is crispy. Alternatively, you can reheat them in an air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes, until hot. Be sure not to reheat for too long or the chicken will be dry. I do not recommend microwaving leftover chicken bites because the bacon will not be crispy and the chicken will easily dry out.
More gluten-free appetizers to try
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Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites
Ingredients
- 12 strips regular cut bacon (cut into thirds)
- 1.5 lbs chicken breast (cut into 1 inch cubes)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and toss until they are evenly coated with the brown sugar mixture.
- Place a piece of chicken on one end of a bacon strip and roll the bacon around the chicken. Repeat with the remaining chicken and bacon pieces.
- Arrange the wrapped chicken pieces seam-side down on the parchment lined baking sheets, leaving a bit of space between each piece for even browning. Use two baking sheets if necessary to ensure the chicken bites are not overcrowded on the pan.
- Brush or dollop any remaining brown sugar mixture from the bottom of the mixing bowl on top of the bacon.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, switching the baking sheet positions halfway through, or until the bacon is browned and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Ensure the chicken is fully cooked by checking that the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- For extra crispy bacon, place a wire cooling rack on top of a baking sheet and spray it with cooking spray. Arrange the bites on the rack to elevate them, allowing the heat to circulate and the fat to drip away. This ensures they get crispy without needing to be flipped in the oven.
- I can usually get about 36 chicken bites out of this recipe. The bacon that I buy comes with 12 strips, that I cut into 3 equal pieces and then I cut my chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes to get 36 total pieces.
Nutrition
I’m Megan
A gluten-free food blogger from Chicago and lover of all things food, showing you gluten-free can be easy and delicious, too. Let’s make gluten-free stress free together! Read more…
