• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Grilling 24x7
  • Grilling 24x7
  • About
  • Recipes
    • By Food Type
      • Beef
        • Pellet Grill
        • Charcoal Grill
      • Poultry
        • Chicken
        • Turkey
      • Pork
        • Pork Ribs
        • Pellet Grill
        • Charcoal Grill
      • Seafood
        • Crab
        • Shrimp
        • Lobster
        • Fish
      • Veggies
        • Appetizers
        • Side Dishes
        • Soups and Casseroles
        • Main Dishes
      • Lamb
      • Keto Diet
    • By Course
      • Appetizers
        • Beef
        • Poultry
        • Pork
        • Seafood
      • Soups and Casseroles
      • Salads
      • Side Dishes
      • Main Dishes
        • Beef
        • Poultry
        • Pork
        • Seafood
        • Pizza
      • Dessert
      • Sauces/rubs
    • By Method
      • Cast Iron Recipes
        • Appetizers
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
        • Side Dishes
        • Soups and Casseroles
        • Main Dishes
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
      • Tailgate Recipes
        • Grilled Appetizers
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
          • Veggies
        • Side Dishes
        • Soups And Casseroles
        • Main Dishes
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
          • Veggie
  • Reviews
  • Tips
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
Grilling 24x7 » Recipes » Pellet Grill Bacon Wrapped Smoked Chicken Tenders

Pellet Grill Bacon Wrapped Smoked Chicken Tenders

by Frank Campanella Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe

These Quick and Easy pellet grill Bacon-Wrapped Smoked Chicken Tenders are one of my family's favorite appetizers on our smoker and Low-Carb.

bacon wrapped chicken tenders next o a wooden spoon with mustard bbq sauce

Why These Smoked Chicken Tenders Are the Best

We all love classic fried chicken tenders, but with grilling season coming up, this is a great alternative that I have always loved.

You can prep these tenders beforehand, and in less than an hour, you have a tasty bacon-wrapped chicken tender that kids and adults will love. Need another tasty appetizer, try these cheeseburger egg rolls from JZ Eats or these Pizza Pinwheels

These Smoked chicken tenders are seasoned with a sweet and spicy dry rub, smoked on a pellet grill, and brushed with a bold Mustard BBQ sauce which is like honey mustard on steroids.

Whenever Im smoking meats I like to make these chicken tenders as an appetizer while we wait for the main event.

about to dip the bacon wrapped chicken tender into the mustard bbq sauce

Ingredient List

  • Chicken Tenderloins: These are super easy to use for chicken tenders, but you can also buy chicken breasts and cut them into strips.
  • Bacon: Whenever I wrap something in bacon, I use a thin cut so that it can crisp up and cook quickly. I save the thick cut for breakfast.
  • Seasoning: I use a BBQ dry rub seasoning, but you can keep it simple with salt and pepper or maybe try a cajun seasoning for a spicy twist. use whatever your favorite seasoning is and
  • Mustard Barbecue Sauce: This recipe works with any BBQ sauce you like, so if you have a favorite, use it.

Complete Recipe Card Below

dunking a half of the chicken tender in the gold bbq sauce

How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders

  • Lay out an equal amount of chicken strips and slice of bacon. Wrap a piece of bacon at a 45-degree angle around the chicken tenderloin, tucking the end of the bacon underneath. Continue until all your chicken tenders are wrapped in bacon.
  • Place tenders in the fridge for 30 minutes while you heat up your pellet grill to 300 degrees F. High heat for great results
  • Lightly season the chicken tenders with your favorite dry rub and cook for 30-45 minutes until the crispy bacon browns. Once the bacon is fully cooked, brush the chicken tenders with mustard BBQ sauce.
  • Continue cooking for about five more minutes until the sauce caramelizes on the chicken tenders and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
raw bacon wrapped chicken tenders on parchment paper

Variations and Tips

  • If you don't have a smoker, you can also make this recipe in the oven or air fryer. I cook the bacon-wrapped chicken tenders at about 350 degrees F. for 10-12 minutes, then brush on the sauce and cook for another 2 minutes.
  • You can substitute proscuitto instead of bacon for an Italian version of this recipe. The thin prosciutto gets super crispy and combines great smoky flavor with the chicken.
  • You can make your own dry rub using simple ingredients like chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and salt. add brown sugar and paprika for a little sweetness if you like.
  • Brine the chicken tenders in a ziplock bag with a combination of sugar and salt water. The brining process will make the chicken even juicier and more flavorful.
  • You don't want to cook these slowly because the bacon and chicken will turn out chewy. Hot and fast works best for this recipe.
  • You can store the cooked chicken tenders in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, place them in the oven or air fryer at 300 for 5-8 minutes until hot. They make a great lunch atop a salad the next day.
bacon wrapped chicken tenders on a recteq pellet grill

What dipping sauces should you serve?

Here is a list of just a few sauces I think you'll love with these bacon-wrapped chicken tenders, or you can just dip them in more Gold Rush BBQ Sauce or your favorite sauce.

  • Southwestern Ranch
  • Fresh Peach Salsa
  • Blue Cheese
  • Mississippi Comeback Sauce
bacon wrapped chicken tender cut in half to show its juicy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the white thing in chicken tenders?

That is a tendon that attaches the tenderloin to the breast. You can remove it using a paring knife by sliding it underneath the tendon and cutting it off.

What Sides go with bacon-wrapped chicken?

I like serving bacon-wrapped chicken with veggie sides like coleslaw, Pasta salad, or even grilled asparagus. The BBQ bacon chicken can be rich and salty, so serving with something lighter is nice.

Are bacon-wrapped smoked chicken tenders Keto?

If you use a sugar-free rub and BBQ sauce, these BBQ bacon-wrapped chicken tenders are definitely keto-friendly.

Should you use a water pan when smoking chicken?

Since we are cooking at a higher heat it can be helpful to use a water pan while smoking. If you are smoking wings or a whole chicken with skin I prefer not to use a water pan because it prevents the skin form getting crispy.

Make sure to pin this recipe and share it with someone who loves chicken tenders!!

dipping bacon wrapped chicken tender into gold mustard bbq sauce

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This site contains affiliate links.

More Recipes You Will Love

  • Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Hoisin BBQ Sauce
  • Smoked Brisket Egg Rolls (leftover brisket recipe)
  • Bacon Wrapped Cream Cheese
  • Bacon Wrapped Cheddar Stuffed Hotdogs
  • Juicy Grilled Chicken on a Charcoal Grill

bacon wrapped chicken tenders
Print Pin

Bacon Wrapped Smoked Chicken Tenders

These Quick and Easy pellet grill Bacon-Wrapped Tenders are one of my family's favorite appetizers on our smoker and Low-Carb.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American, BBQ
Keyword Bacon Wrapped Chicken, Chicken Tenders
Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time 1 hour hour
Servings 6
Calories 424kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Chicken Tenderloin Or Chicken Breast
  • 1 lb Bacon thin cut
  • 1 tbsp BBQ Dry Rub
  • ¼ cup Mustard BBQ Sauce
  • Cooking Spray

Instructions

  • Layout an equal amount of chicken strips and slices of bacon. Wrap a slice of bacon at a 45 degree angle around the chicken tenderloin tucking the end of the bacon underneath. Continue until all your chicken tenders are wrapped in bacon.
  • Place the bacon wrapped tenders in the fridge for 30 minutes while you heat up your pellet grill to 300 degrees F.
  • Spray cooking oil on the tenders then lightly season the chicken tenders with your favorite dry rub and cook for 30-45 minutes until the bacon begins to brown. Once the bacon is fully cooked you can brush the chicken tenders with mustard bbq sauce.
  • Continue cooking for about 5 more minutes until the sauce caramelizes on the chicken tenders.

Notes

You will get someware between 6-8 chicken tenderloins per pound. Most packs of thin cut bacon have at least 12 slices so I recommend doubling up this recipe. 
Leftovers tenders can be reheatted in the oven or air fryer at 300 degrees F. for 5-8 minutes.
Chicken tenders will last about 5 days covered in the fridge or 90 days in the freezer.

Nutrition

Calories: 424kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 711mg | Potassium: 462mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 95IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
bacon wrapped chicken tenders cooked and served on a cutting board

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook46
  • Twitter
  • Email

Reader Interactions

Comments

No Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Frank Campanella

If you love grilling, smoking and searing then you have come to the right place. Grilling 24x7 is your home for everything BBQ, Grilling and more. 

You'll find unique grilling recipes as well as a collection of bbq sides and sauces to make your next backyard cookout or tailgate a success.

Read More →

The Complete Guide to Grilling Steak - by Frank Campanella - Available wherever books are sold

Most Popular Recipes

  • Smoked Eye round on a sesame seed roll with bbq sauce
    Smoked Eye of Round Roast
  • cast Iron skillet cuban casserole
    Cuban Casserole Using Leftover Pulled Pork
  • Baby back ribs gas grill recipe
    Smoked Pork Ribs For Beginners
  • Smoked Bacon Wrapped Onion Ring Recipe w/ Spicy Sriracha Mayo Dipping Sauce- Grilling24x7.com
    Smoked Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings with Spicy Sriracha Onion Rings

Sign Up For The Best BBQ Recipes



Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2021 Grilling 24x7