Bacon wrapped chicken thighs are an elegant, crowd-pleasing, yet family-friendly meal. They look and taste amazing but are quick and easy to make. With minimal effort, you can bake juicy chicken thighs wrapped in crispy bacon in the oven all in one pan.
This chicken thigh recipe can be your new go-to entree for all occasions. From a simple weeknight dinner with a side of green beans to special occasions like Date Night, an anniversary, Mother’s or Father’s Day, or a dinner party, dress it up or down to fit the meal.
It’s easy to double batch and serve eight people at a holiday dinner. Set a formal dining table and then bring these out – oh wee! Won’t everyone be impressed.
Table of Contents (click to view)
Why You’ll Love Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs
- Simple ingredients – just five of them
- Short prep and cooking time – these are ready to bake in less than 10 minutes
- Amazing flavors – savory and succulent!
- Family-friendly and kid-approved – good eating for everyone
- Basic kitchen equipment – one mixing bowl and a baking dish
- Easy-to-follow directions – three simple steps
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs in the Oven
Gather five simple ingredients, season, and wrap the chicken. Then arrange in a baking dish and bake until cooked through, browned, and juicy! Finish off with a garnish of parsley.
Ingredients You Need
- Chicken thighs – Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are best. Ideally, each thigh is about four ounces.
- Salt and ground black pepper
- Bacon – The thinner, the better because thicker bacon is harder to wrap and takes longer to cook.
- Parsley – Garnishing with fresh or dried parsley adds a beautiful splash of color and subtle flavor.
Substitutions and Variations
Review the lists here for quick and clever substitutions, plus fun variations you can try to extend this recipe into more delightful renditions.
Ingredient Substitutions
Even though this is such a simple recipe, you might be missing one of the key ingredients.
Here are suggested substitutions for bacon wrapped chicken thigh ingredients:
- Chicken thighs – Use chicken thighs with the skin on, or substitute with different poultry like boneless, skinless turkey thighs or duck thighs. You can also substitute with chicken tender or boneless chicken breast. Cooking time may increase for pieces larger than four ounces.
- Salt and ground black pepper – These are the basics, but if you want to get fancy, use gourmet salt and white pepper or lemon pepper instead.
- Bacon – It’s obviously a main feature, but even so, you can substitute it with turkey bacon.
- Parsley – Garnish with fresh or dried cilantro, chives, or basil.
Variations
Want to add your own spin?
Try these variations:
- How does cheese-stuffed bacon wrapped chicken sound? Take a piece of cheddar or mozzarella cheese and place it on top of the chicken, then layer the bacon, and wrap it around.
- Rub your favorite dry rub seasoning on the chicken with salt and pepper. Favorites often include poultry seasoning, dry Ranch seasoning, and Italian seasoning.
- Take it a step further and marinate the chicken thighs in a mixture of olive oil and herb for 30 minutes before wrapping with bacon and baking them in the oven. These easy steak marinades work as well for chicken as they do for beef.
- Try smoked bacon instead of regular for smoky bacon wrapped chicken thighs.
What diet is this best for?
As written in the recipe card, this recipe is naturally gluten-free, sugar-free, low-carb, dairy-free, low-oxalate, and low-fiber. If you have additional dietary needs, consider the following modifications.
- Keto diet – Choose a sugar-free bacon.
- Carnivore diet – Omit the black pepper seasoning and parsley garnish.
- Paleo diet – Use nitrate-free bacon.
- GAPS diet – Use organic, pasture-raised chicken thighs.
- Whole30 diet – Following the above suggestions for Paleo and GAPS also allows this recipe on a Whole30 Diet.
This recipe is nut-free, grain-free, egg-free, nightshade-free, phytate-free, and contains no nightshades.
Smoked and cured bacon is a high-histamine food. Review the bacon’s ingredient list to ensure it’s suitable for your diet type. Generally, wellness diets avoid nitrates, preservatives, and artificial flavors.
Step-By-Step Instructions
This recipe only takes 10 minutes to prep before going in the oven, then bakes for 25-30 minutes.
Follow these simple directions, and you can’t go wrong!
Step one: Prepare
Start by preheating the oven to 400F (204C). Grease an oven-safe skillet or baking dish.
Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
Step two: Wrap the chicken thighs
Keep the thigh as flat as possible while holding the end of a strip of bacon at one side and wrapping it around to the other.
Arrange it in the baking dish with the bacon tail down (seam side down). Continue wrapping all the thighs. Adjust the thighs in the dish so they aren’t touching each other.
Step three: Bake the chicken thighs
Bake for 25-30 minutes until an instant-read thermometer reads 165F (74C) in the center of the thighs.
Remove from the oven and rest for five minutes. Serve warm with optional parsley garnish and juices spooned over each thigh evenly.
How long to bake chicken thighs in the oven?
Bake these bacon wrapped chicken thighs in a preheated oven at 400F (204C) for 25-30 minutes until the internal temperature reads 165F (74C) on an instant-read thermometer.
I highly recommend investing in a meat thermometer. It’s an exceedingly useful tool. I use mine multiple times a week.
Expert Tips
- Wrap each chicken thigh as flat as possible for quick and even cooking. This also minimizes how much of the bacon overlaps, which can increase cooking time.
- Considering a toothpick? With thin strips of bacon, I didn’t need to insert a toothpick into the meat to keep the bacon wrapped. Rolling the chicken and placing it seam side down is enough to hold the shape while baking.
- After these bake, place the chicken under the broiler for five minutes to enhance the bacon’s crispiness and get a deeper golden brown finish.
- Don’t skip the rest time after the chicken bakes because this step helps make perfectly juicy thighs.
Nutritional Info
This recipe yields four servings and is easily doubled for eight servings.
Per serving:
- 397 calories
- 22 g protein
- 30 g fat
- 1 g total carbs
- 0 g fiber
- 1 g net carbs
Please note that the nutritional value will change if you substitute ingredients. Use a nutrition app to recalculate and reflect your changes.
How to Store this Recipe
Let the meat cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for three to five days.
Heat them up again in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through or on a baking dish in the oven for about 10 minutes.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes, you can! Prep the chicken beforehand by seasoning it and wrapping it in bacon. Then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to transfer to a baking dish, bake, and serve.
Can I freeze bacon wrapped chicken?
For long-term storage, freeze them in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag for up to three months. Label and date the container so you don’t forget what they are.
Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before reheating with your preferred method.
How to Serve this Recipe
Sides like cauliflower potatoes, cauliflower rice, or cauliflower mac and cheese are great additions that keep carbs low.
If you’re not on a low-carb diet, pair this dinner dish with your favorite potato dish instead.
Other simple options include a fresh green salad with homemade dressing or a light avocado bone broth soup.
For dessert, consider Nutella fudge, chocolate mousse, or chocolate cake with coconut flour.
More Easy Recipes with Bacon
Since everything is better with bacon, I know you’ll want to make these tasty recipes too!
Our Outback Steakhouse Alice Springs chicken recipe is an irresistible copycat meal with savory mustard sauce, mushrooms, bacon, and cheese you don’t want to miss. Sure to impress, serve meaty main for your next date night dinner, Father’s Day, anniversary or other special occasions.
Speaking of cheese, cheesy Ranch chicken and chicken bacon Ranch casserole present more delicious spins on pairing chicken and bacon together. They are both quick and easy family-friendly recipes for any weeknight.
Have a Ninja Foodi or air fryer? This Ninja Foodi Hunters Chicken is a saucy delight you can make.
Looking for an appetizer instead? Try a cheddar Ranch dip with vegetable sticks or your favorite dippables.
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 pieces chicken thighs boneless skinless
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 slices bacon thin cut
- ½ tablespoon parsley finely minced, garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 °F. Grease a baking dish or oven-safe skillet.
- Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.4 pieces chicken thighs, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon salt
- Keep the thigh as flat as possible, while holding the end of a strip of bacon at one side and wrapping it around to the other. Arrange it in the baking dish, with the bacon tail down (seam side down). Continue wrapping all the thighs. Adjust the thighs in the dish so they aren’t touching each other.4 slices bacon
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until an instant-read thermometer reads 165 °F in the center of the thighs.
- Remove from the oven and rest for five minutes. Serve warm with optional parsley garnish and juices spooned over each thigh evenly.½ tablespoon parsley
Notes
- Wrap each chicken thigh as flat as possible for quick and even cooking. This also minimizes how much of the bacon overlaps which can increase cooking time.
- Considering a toothpick? With thin strips of bacon, I didn’t need to insert a toothpick into the meat to keep the bacon wrapped. Rolling the chicken and placing it, seam side down is enough to hold the shape while baking.
- After these bake, place the chicken under the broiler for five minutes if you want to enhance the crispiness of the bacon and get a deeper golden brown finish.
- Don’t skip the rest time after the chicken bakes because this step helps make perfectly juicy thighs.
Nutrition & Macros
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information.
I tried this recipe out on my family and it was such a hit! I love how simple it is to make and will definitely include it in my repertoire for when we have company over for lunch or dinner.
Amazing how this is a great weeknight meal and so nice for company. I love that. Thanks for the review, Sandra.
My husband thought this was the best chicken I have made. He loves dark meat. The thighs were very tender and all the flavor, wow! Thanks for the recipe!!
5-stars from the hubby! That’s when you know it’s good eating. Thanks for the review, Amy.