Crispy Bacon Wrapped Parmesan Garlic Chicken
Crispy Bacon Wrapped Parmesan Garlic Chicken is a family favorite that’s better than takeout. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly crispy bacon and juicy chicken every time. The golden, crispy bacon wrapped around the juicy chicken is irresistible, and the garlic Parmesan flavor is out of this world. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Crispy Chicken Wonton Tacos Recipe and One Pot Cajun Sausage Pasta.
Why This Crispy Bacon Wrapped Parmesan Garlic Chicken Is Pure Comfort
- Golden, crispy bacon wrapped around juicy chicken
- Garlic Parmesan flavor that's out of this world
- Better than takeout, ready in just 20 minutes
- Easy to customize with your favorite seasonings
What You'll Need for Crispy Bacon Wrapped Parmesan Garlic Chicken
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 slices bacon
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika (optional, for color)
- Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Optional: Lemon wedges (for serving)
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken breasts: You can also use chicken tenders or thighs for this recipe.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Meat Thermometer — Ensures perfectly cooked chicken every time → See on Amazon
- Baking Sheet — Provides even heat and prevents sticking → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Bacon Wrapped Parmesan Garlic Chicken
- Prepare the chicken: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and paprika (if using). Mince the garlic and mix it with the grated Parmesan cheese.
- Wrap the chicken in bacon: Wrap each chicken breast with 2 slices of bacon, securing them with toothpicks. Make sure the bacon is evenly distributed and not overlapping too much.
- Bake the chicken: Place the wrapped chicken breasts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the bacon is crispy. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Serve: Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges, if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Bacon Wrapped Parmesan Garlic Chicken
- Common mistake and fix: The #1 reason this recipe fails is overcooking the chicken, which makes it dry. To prevent this, use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), then let it rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
- Pro tip: For extra flavor, you can brush the chicken with a mixture of melted butter, garlic, and herbs before wrapping it in bacon.
- Pro tip: To make this recipe even faster, you can wrap the chicken in bacon and then freeze it. When you're ready to cook, simply preheat your oven and bake the frozen chicken for an additional 5-10 minutes.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Bacon Wrapped Parmesan Garlic Chicken
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can wrap the chicken in bacon up to 1 day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
Freezing Crispy Bacon Wrapped Parmesan Garlic Chicken
Freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Be careful not to overheat, as this can make the chicken dry.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add some red pepper flakes or hot sauce to the garlic Parmesan mixture.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the bacon for turkey bacon to make this recipe lower in calories and fat.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the bacon is not crispy after baking, you can broil it for an additional 1-2 minutes. Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning.
Want to level up this recipe?
Cast Iron Skillet — Provides even heat and great flavor for searing the chicken before baking → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Bacon Wrapped Parmesan Garlic Chicken
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 slices bacon
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika (optional, for color)
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Lemon wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and paprika (if using). Mince the garlic and mix it with the grated Parmesan cheese.
- Wrap the chicken in bacon: Wrap each chicken breast with 2 slices of bacon, securing them with toothpicks. Make sure the bacon is evenly distributed and not overlapping too much.
- Bake the chicken: Place the wrapped chicken breasts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the bacon is crispy. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Serve: Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges, if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add some red pepper flakes or hot sauce to the garlic Parmesan mixture.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the bacon for turkey bacon to make this recipe lower in calories and fat.
- Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the bacon is not crispy after baking, you can broil it for an additional 1-2 minutes. Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Be careful not to overheat, as this can make the chicken dry.
- Make ahead: You can wrap the chicken in bacon up to 1 day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 380
- Protein: 38g
- Fat: 20g
- Carbs: 6g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sat. Fat: 9g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Crispy Bacon Wrapped Parmesan Garlic Chicken FAQs
Yes, you can wrap the chicken in bacon up to 1 day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
The #1 reason this recipe fails is overcooking the chicken, which makes it dry. To prevent this, use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), then let it rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Yes, you can cook the bacon wrapped chicken in the air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the bacon is crispy.
You can substitute the bacon for turkey bacon to make this recipe lower in calories and fat.
Yes, you can freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Bacon Wrapped Parmesan Garlic Chicken and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
