Ingredients:
• 1 lb chicken tenders (about 8-10 pieces)
• 8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• Cooking spray or oil (for greasing)
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven:
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with cooking spray or oil.
2. Prepare the chicken tenders:
Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This will help them crisp up better during baking.
3. Mix the seasoning:
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to mix the spices and sugar evenly.
4. Coat the chicken tenders:
Roll each chicken tender in the brown sugar seasoning mixture. Press gently to make sure the coating sticks well on the chicken. You can even rub the mixture into the chicken a little for more coverage.
5. Wrap the chicken in bacon:
Take a cooked slice of bacon and wrap it around each seasoned chicken tender. Secure the ends of the bacon with toothpicks if needed.
6. Arrange on the baking sheet:
Place the bacon-wrapped chicken tenders on the prepared baking sheet, making sure they are spaced out evenly.
7. Spray with cooking spray:
Lightly spray the chicken tenders with cooking spray to help the bacon crisp up as it bakes.
8. Bake the tenders:
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F or 75°C), and the bacon is crispy. You can also broil them for 2-3 minutes at the end to make the bacon extra crispy.
9. Rest and serve:
Once done, remove the toothpicks, if used, and let the chicken tenders rest for a few minutes before serving.