Description
Bacon brown sugar chicken tenders bring serious flavor to your dinner table, turning plain chicken into a mouthwatering meal that’ll have everyone asking for seconds. Crispy, sweet, and savory, these tenders make weeknight cooking feel like a delicious celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound chicken tenders
- 6 slices bacon
Seasonings and Spices:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
Cooking Essentials:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Chop 6 slices of bacon into tiny pieces, preparing for a flavor-packed dish that will tantalize your taste buds.
- Sizzle the bacon fragments in a skillet at medium heat for 5-7 minutes until they turn crisp and golden, then transfer to paper towels to drain excess grease.
- Combine ½ cup packed brown sugar, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl.
- Roll each chicken tender through the spice mixture, ensuring every inch gets a generous coating of the sweet and savory blend.
- Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil into the same skillet with remaining bacon drippings, heating to medium-high temperature.
- Lay the seasoned chicken tenders into the hot skillet, cooking for exactly 4 minutes on the first side until a beautiful golden crust develops.
- Flip each tender carefully and cook an additional 4 minutes, watching for a deep caramel color and ensuring internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Sprinkle the reserved crispy bacon pieces over the chicken during the final minute of cooking, letting the fragments stick to the sugary glaze.
- Transfer tenders to a serving plate, letting them rest for 2-3 minutes to seal in the juices and allow flavors to meld.
- Optional: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a bright, fresh finish to your delectable chicken tenders.
Notes
- Bacon cooking is key to building deep flavor, so take time to render the fat slowly and get those pieces perfectly crisp.
- Ensure chicken tenders are evenly coated with the spice and brown sugar mixture for consistent seasoning in every bite.
- Use a meat thermometer to check that chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature for safe, juicy results.
- For a gluten-free version, replace any potential flour with cornstarch or almond flour to maintain the crispy coating.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 379 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 460 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg