Bbq Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Thighs: The Ultimate Guide

Bacon-wrapped chicken thighs are a delicious and easy meal to make for a casual dinner or a party. The chicken thighs are seasoned, wrapped in bacon, and cooked until crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. This dish can be made on a grill, in an air fryer, or in the oven, and is sure to impress your family and friends. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to make mouthwatering BBQ bacon-wrapped chicken thighs.

Choosing the right type of chicken

When it comes to choosing the right type of chicken for your BBQ bacon-wrapped chicken thighs, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, most recipes call for boneless and skinless chicken thighs. This is because they are easier to eat and cook more quickly than bone-in chicken thighs. However, you can also use bone-in chicken thighs if you prefer, just be aware that they may require a slightly longer cooking time.

Secondly, when it comes to the type of chicken thigh, dark meat tends to be more flavourful and juicier than white meat. So, if you want to ensure your chicken thighs are tender and moist, opt for dark meat.

When purchasing your chicken thighs, you can usually find them fresh or frozen at your local grocery store. You can also choose to debone them yourself if you prefer. If you're looking to save some money, buying frozen chicken thighs or deboning them yourself can be more cost-effective.

In terms of quantity, a typical recipe serves about four people and calls for two pounds of chicken thighs, or about six to eight individual thighs. However, if you're cooking for a crowd, you can easily double or triple the recipe.

Lastly, when selecting your chicken thighs, look for good quality, organic chicken if possible. This will ensure the best flavour and texture in your final dish.

Preparing the chicken

For this recipe, you will need boneless, skinless chicken thighs. You can buy these fresh or frozen from your local grocery store, or you can debone them yourself. Chicken thighs are a great choice for this recipe as they have more flavour and stay juicier when cooked.

Place the thighs on a cutting board and trim off any excess fat. Season each side with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, or a BBQ rub. If you want to get creative, you can try a honey, lime, and garlic seasoning mix, adding some extra touches like cayenne pepper, dried onions, and herbs.

Next, wrap each thigh with a strip of bacon. Try to use homemade bacon if you can, as it's tastier. Make sure that both ends of the bacon strips end up at the bottom of the thigh. You can secure the bacon with toothpicks if you like.

If you want to add some extra flavour, you can fill each thigh with a cream cheese and jalapeño pepper mix. Simply split the jalapeño peppers in half lengthwise, remove the seeds and veins, fill with cream cheese, and place the pepper in the centre of each chicken thigh, forming the meat around the pepper.

Now your chicken is ready to cook!

Wrapping the chicken

Now that you have seasoned the chicken thighs, it's time to wrap them in bacon. This step is crucial as it helps lock in moisture, keeping the chicken juicy and tender during cooking. Here's a detailed guide on how to wrap the chicken thighs perfectly:

Step 1: Prepare the Bacon

Start by laying out your bacon slices. You'll need one slice of bacon for each chicken thigh. If you're using thicker slices of bacon, you may need to stretch them slightly to ensure they wrap around the chicken evenly. You can do this by gently running a knife along the length of the bacon slice or even using your hands to stretch it gently.

Step 2: Wrapping Technique

Take a chicken thigh and place it on a cutting board or clean surface. Pick up a slice of bacon and lay it over the chicken thigh, starting from one end. Gently roll the chicken thigh away from you, bringing the bacon slice with it until the chicken is fully wrapped. Ensure the bacon ends up on the underside of the chicken thigh to prevent it from unraveling.

If you're using thinner bacon slices, you may need two slices per chicken thigh. Simply lay the first slice down, slightly overlapping the second slice, and then wrap as usual. For thicker bacon slices, one should be enough to cover the entire thigh.

Step 3: Secure with Toothpicks (Optional)

If you're worried about the bacon unraveling during cooking, you can secure it with toothpicks. Simply insert a toothpick through the bacon and into the chicken thigh at each end of the bacon slice. This will hold everything in place. Remember to remove the toothpicks before serving, as they can be a choking hazard.

Step 4: Repeat for All Thighs

Repeat this process for each chicken thigh until they are all wrapped in bacon. This step is quick and easy, but it ensures your chicken stays moist and juicy during cooking, resulting in a delicious and tender final product.

Once you've wrapped all the chicken thighs, you can move on to the next step, which is cooking them to crispy, mouthwatering perfection!

Cooking methods

There are several ways to cook bacon-wrapped chicken thighs, including grilling, air frying, and baking. Each method has its own advantages and will produce slightly different results. Here is a detailed look at each cooking method:

Grilling

Grilling is a great way to cook bacon-wrapped chicken thighs as it provides a hot surface and high temperature to help render bacon fat quickly and caramelize the surface. It is best to grill the chicken thighs at a temperature of 350F-400F over direct heat for about 20-30 minutes, turning them frequently to ensure even cooking. The internal temperature of the chicken thighs should reach at least 165F, but if you prefer your meat more well-done, you can cook it to 175F-185F.

Air frying

Air frying is another excellent option for cooking bacon-wrapped chicken thighs, producing similar results to grilling. It is a quick, easy, and less messy method that is ideal for indoor cooking. Air frying will take about 25-30 minutes, with two flips during the cooking process. Like grilling, the internal temperature of the chicken thighs should reach at least 165F.

Baking

Baking can also be used to cook bacon-wrapped chicken thighs, but it may require a couple of additional steps to ensure the bacon crisps up. Plain baking may result in pale, rubbery bacon by the time the chicken is cooked through. One way to address this is to quickly pan-sear the bacon-wrapped thighs before baking, or to bake them until almost done and then broil them to get some browning. It is important to pay close attention when broiling, as the bacon can go from browned to burnt very quickly. Baking will take about 30-35 minutes at 400F, including searing or broiling.

Serving suggestions

Bacon-wrapped chicken thighs are a versatile dish that can be served in various settings, from casual dinners to parties or even fancy dinners. Here are some serving suggestions to complement this delicious meal:

• Rice: Rice is an excellent choice to accompany the chicken thighs. It can be plain white rice or flavoured with herbs and spices.
• Vegetables: Roasted or stir-fried vegetables make a great side dish. You can choose your favourite veggies, such as asparagus, broccoli, carrots, or peppers, and cook them to perfection.
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes: For a more comforting option, garlic mashed potatoes are a perfect match for the chicken. The garlic adds a nice kick to the creamy potatoes.
• Salad: If you're looking for a lighter option, an Italian-style tomato and cucumber salad will refresh your palate between bites of the rich chicken dish.
• Sandwiches: You can also serve the chicken thighs between two buns with ranch dressing, creating a scrumptious bacon chicken ranch sandwich.
• BBQ Loaded Hasselback Potatoes: These potatoes are a tasty side dish that complements the flavours of the chicken.
• Baked Macaroni and Cheese: A classic comfort food, mac and cheese, is always a crowd-pleaser and goes well with the chicken.
• Classic American Potato Salad: This salad is a perfect side dish for a summer BBQ and pairs well with the bacon-wrapped chicken thighs.

Feel free to experiment with your favourite side dishes or create new combinations to serve with the bacon-wrapped chicken thighs!

Frequently asked questions