BBQ Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders

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Whether its tailgating or a backyard cookout these BBQ Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders are one of my favorite appetizers to serve.

overhear shot of smoked bacon wrapped chicken tenders

These chicken tenders are seasoned with a sweet and spicy dry rub then smoked on the pellet grill and then brushed with a bold bbq sauce.

Kids, adults and everyone in-between love these bacon wrapped chicken tenders and I know you will too!!

holding smoked chicken tender in my fingers

Gold Rush Sauce!!

I don’t know if anyone remembers the Gold Rush Chicken Sandwich ant Roy Roger’s but when I was a kid that was my jam!!

The sandwich had bacon, chicken provolone and a honey mustard sauce that was closer to a bbq sauce…and don’t forget the fixing’ bar!!!!

This awesome “Gold Rush”mustard bbq sauce from Utz Works reminds me of that sandwich and is the perfect glaze for these bacon wrapped chicken tenders.

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

How to Make Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders

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.
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.

overhead shot of raw bacon wrapped chicken tenders on parchment paper

Ingredient List

Chicken Tenderloins ( or breasts cut into strips)
Bacon
BBQ Dry Rub
Cooking Spray
Mustard BBQ Sauce

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 just dip them in more Gold Rush BBQ Sauce.

overhead of cooked bacon wrapped chicken

Variations and Pro Tips

Bacon: I always use a thin cut bacon for wrapping. The fat renders out and will cook quicker driving you a much better texture. Save the thick cuts for burgers and BLT’s. You can also substitute Prosciutto if you prefer and use an Italian seasoning on the chicken tenders.

Chicken: This recipe will work with boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts if you don’t want to use chicken tenderloins. Just trim off any excess fat and slice into strips. Turkey Breast is also a good variation for this recipe.

Prep: You can prep these bbq chicken tenders up to 2 days ahead of time and store them in a sealed container.

Storage: You can store the cooked bacon wrapped chicken tenders in the fridge in a container for up to 5 days.

Reheat: Your air fryer or oven are both great options for reheating. Wrap the tenders in foil and cook at 350 degrees F. for about 10-12 minutes just until warm and serve.

Cooking Methods: If you don’t have a pellet grill you can make these using a gas or charcoal grill. Set up the heat for a 2 zone cook and grill the chicken tenders over indirect heat for about 20-30 minutes.

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 the knife underneath the tendon and cutting it off.

What Sides go with bacon wrapped chicken?

I like to serve bacon wrapped chicken with some veggie sides like coleslaw, Pasta salad or even grilled asparagus . The bbq bacon chicken can be rich and salty so Its nice to serve with something lighter.

Are bacon wrapped chicken tenders Keto?

If you use a sugar free rub and bbq sauce then these bbq bacon wrapped chicken tenders are definitely keto friendly.

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dipping bacon wrapped chicken tender into gold mustard bbq sauce

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