My Favorite Keto Dinner: The Ultimate Cheesy Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders!

Okay, you guys, let’s talk about the ultimate keto dinner. It needs to be high in healthy fats, absolutely packed with protein, and super low in carbs, but it also has to be incredibly delicious, right? Nobody wants to feel like they’re eating boring “diet food” for dinner!

What if I told you that my absolute favorite keto meal involves three of the best ingredients on the entire planet: juicy chicken, crispy bacon, and gooey, melted cheese? It’s a trifecta of pure savory perfection that is so satisfying and so indulgent. It’s honestly the kind of meal that makes you completely forget you’re even following a specific eating plan.

So today, I am so incredibly excited to share the recipe that I make whenever I want a truly satisfying and easy dinner: these incredible Cheesy Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders. They are so simple to make, and the flavour is absolutely out of this world. I seriously cannot wait for you to try these!

The Ultimate Keto Indulgence: Bacon-Wrapped Chicken

This Bacon-Wrapped Chicken recipe is my go-to for a reason. The salty, savory bacon wraps around the tender, juicy chicken, basting it in all of its delicious flavor as it bakes to crispy perfection. It’s a simple technique that delivers a truly impressive and ridiculously satisfying result with minimal effort.

A Perfect Easy Keto Recipe for Low-Carb Family Dinners

You will find that this is such an easy keto recipe, and it comes together with just a handful of simple, easy-to-find ingredients. It is also one of my favorite low-carb family dinners because it’s a guaranteed hit with absolutely everyone at the table, even the people who aren’t eating keto. It’s just pure, delicious comfort food that no one can resist.

Your Guide: How Do You Get Bacon Crispy in the Oven?

So many of you have asked me this, so here is your guide: how do you get bacon crispy in the oven when it’s wrapped around chicken? My number one, non-negotiable secret is that you must bake it on a wire rack that has been set over a foil-lined baking sheet. This simple setup elevates the chicken, allowing the hot air to circulate all the way around the bacon and, most importantly, it lets the fat drip away, which is the key to getting it perfectly crispy instead of soggy.

Why You’ll Love These Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders

I know you are going to be completely obsessed with this recipe because the amazing combination of the juicy chicken, the salty, crispy bacon, and the gooey, melted cheese is absolutely irresistible. You’ll also love that this is a super easy meal to prepare, with very little active work involved, making it perfect for a weeknight. Plus, it’s a perfectly satisfying meal for anyone following a keto or low-carb lifestyle that will crush any cravings.

Nutritional Benefits

This delicious dish is a true keto powerhouse, and it’s designed to fuel your body and keep you on track. It is absolutely packed with high-quality protein and healthy fats from the chicken, bacon, and cheese, which is essential for maintaining ketosis and keeping you feeling full and satisfied for hours. Because this dish is so incredibly satisfying, it also helps to crush any cravings you might have for carb-heavy or sugary foods.

Full Recipe

Okay, are you guys ready for the recipe that will probably become your new favorite keto dinner? I am so excited for you to experience all this cheesy, bacon-wrapped goodness. Let’s get into the super simple steps to make this incredible dish!

An easy, delicious, and satisfying low-carb and keto-friendly recipe. These Cheesy Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders feature juicy, seasoned chicken tenderloins wrapped in crispy bacon and smothered in gooey, melted cheddar cheese. This is the ultimate simple and indulgent dinner that proves you don’t have to sacrifice flavour on a diet.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 45 minutes | Yield: 4 servings | Category: Dinner, Main Course | Method: Baking | Cuisine: American | Diet: Low-Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free

Essential Ingredients for Cheesy Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders

This indulgent and easy keto dinner comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients.

• Chicken: 1.5 lbs (about 700g) of chicken tenderloins
• Bacon: 12 slices of regular-cut bacon
• Cheese: 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• Seasoning Blend:
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Ingredients Notes

Let’s chat for a sec about these simple ingredients, because a few key choices are what make this dish so perfect.

• The Chicken Tenderloins: I love using chicken tenderloins for this recipe because they are naturally so tender and they are the perfect size and shape for wrapping with a slice of bacon. It is important to pat them completely dry with a paper towel before you season them. This helps the seasoning to stick and the bacon to adhere better.
• The Bacon: For the best result, it is very important to use a regular-cut bacon, not a thick-cut variety. The thick-cut bacon takes much longer to render and become crispy in the oven, and it can result in an undercooked, chewy texture. The regular-cut bacon will wrap more easily and will crisp up perfectly in the same amount of time that it takes to cook the chicken.
• The Cheese: A good, sharp cheddar cheese provides the best, boldest flavour that stands up beautifully to the smoky bacon. As I always say, for the absolute best, gooiest melt, it is always a great idea to buy a block of cheese and shred it yourself just before you use it.

How to Make Cheesy Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders

Let’s get into just how easy it is to put this indulgent and delicious keto dinner together.

• Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Seasoning. First, you will want to preheat your oven to a hot 200°C (400°F). Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup, and place an oven-safe wire rack on top. In a small bowl, mix together the smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
• Step 2: Season and Wrap the Chicken. Pat your chicken tenderloins completely dry. Sprinkle the seasoning blend evenly over all sides of the chicken tenders. Carefully wrap one slice of bacon snugly around each seasoned chicken tenderloin.
• Step 3: Arrange and Bake. Place the bacon-wrapped chicken tenders in a single layer on top of the prepared wire rack. Bake for 15 minutes.
• Step 4: Flip the Chicken. After 15 minutes, carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven. Use tongs to flip each bacon-wrapped chicken tender over.
• Step 5: The Cheesy Finish and Final Bake. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of each chicken tender. Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes. The chicken is done when it is cooked through and the bacon is crispy and golden brown.
• Step 6: Rest and Serve. Let the cheesy bacon-wrapped chicken tenders rest for a few minutes before you serve them. This allows the juices in the chicken to settle, ensuring a tender result.

Storage Options

These delicious bacon-wrapped chicken tenders make for fantastic leftovers. Once they have cooled completely, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The bacon will soften upon refrigeration.

To reheat them and bring back that amazing crispy bacon texture, the absolute best method is to use your air fryer. Just a few minutes in a hot air fryer will make the bacon wonderfully crispy again and will re-melt the cheese beautifully.

Variations and Substitutions

I love this recipe because it’s a great base for you to get creative with. For a bit of a spicy kick, you can add a pinch of cayenne pepper to your seasoning blend, or use a spicy Pepper Jack cheese instead of the cheddar. You can also brush the bacon-wrapped chicken with a sugar-free barbecue sauce before you bake it for a smoky, saucy version. If you don’t have chicken tenderloins, you can also use chicken breasts that have been cut into thick strips.

Practical & Valuable Tips

My number one, non-negotiable tip for this recipe is to use a wire rack; this is the absolute key to getting crispy bacon all the way around your chicken. Using a regular-cut bacon, not a thick-cut one, is my second most important secret for ensuring the bacon cooks through and becomes crispy. Finally, for the most flavour, be generous with your seasoning blend on the chicken before you wrap it in the bacon.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. My bacon didn’t get crispy, it’s soggy. What did I do wrong? Soggy bacon is almost always because the chicken was not baked on a wire rack. The wire rack is essential for elevating the chicken, which allows the hot air to circulate underneath and lets the rendered bacon fat drip away. Without the rack, the chicken will just sit and cook in its own grease, resulting in soggy bacon.
2. Can I use turkey bacon to make this recipe healthier? You can try, but turkey bacon is much leaner and does not contain enough fat to render and become crispy in the same way that regular pork bacon does. For the best flavour and that classic crispy texture, regular-cut pork bacon is highly recommended for this recipe.
3. Can I make these in my air fryer? Yes, an air fryer is a fantastic tool for this recipe! You would simply arrange the bacon-wrapped chicken tenders in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Cook them at about 190°C (375°F) for about 15-20 minutes, flipping once halfway through, and adding the cheese during the last few minutes of cooking.
4. How do I know for sure when the chicken is cooked all the way through? The chicken is done when it is opaque with no pink remaining, and the bacon is crispy. However, the only 100% reliable way to know your chicken is safely cooked is to use an instant-read meat thermometer. The chicken should register an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F).
5. What are the best side dishes to serve with this to keep the meal keto-friendly? This rich and savory chicken pairs beautifully with a variety of simple, low-carb side dishes. It is fantastic with a side of creamy mashed cauliflower, some simple roasted asparagus or green beans, or a big, fresh green salad with a simple vinaigrette.

Conclusion

This recipe for Cheesy Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders is your new secret weapon for a dinner that is incredibly satisfying, delicious, and perfectly keto-friendly. It’s a dish that proves you never have to sacrifice amazing flavour to stick to your health and wellness goals. It’s a simple, indulgent, and crowd-pleasing meal that will have everyone at your table cheering. This is a Low Carb Dinner Idea you will make again and again. If you love this easy and delicious keto meal, don’t forget to share it and save it to your favorite low-carb recipes board on Pinterest!