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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
If you use a sugar-free rub and BBQ sauce, these BBQ bacon-wrapped chicken tenders are definitely keto-friendly.
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!!
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Bacon Wrapped Smoked Chicken Tenders
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
Nutrition
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