Grilling season starts as soon as it's warm enough to fire up the grill, right? This BBQ chicken breast wrapped in bacon is definitely a recipe you'll want to make often!
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Table of Contents
❤️ Why you'll love it
- Just 4 easy ingredients.
- SO MUCH FLAVOR!
- Done in minutes with hardly any prep time.
Grilling is one of the best things about summer. It's the quickest and easiest way to get a meal on the table without ordering takeout!
This barbecue chicken breast always comes out tender and juicy because of the bacon wrap.
It's perfect for busy weeknights or relaxed weekends!
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
I use my homemade bbq sauce and seasoned salt but you can use whatever you like.
You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs in place of the breast if you prefer.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Detailed instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Butterfly chicken breasts and pat dry with paper towels.
- Season to taste with your favorite spice rub or use salt and coarse ground black pepper.
- Wrap in bacon and secure with toothpicks.
- Brush with your favorite barbecue sauce and grill.
Instructions for making this bbq chicken breast recipe in the oven are included in the green recipe card below.
🎥 Video
Click on the image to watch me make this recipe from start to finish with extra tips! (Video opens in a new tab).
🥫 Storage
You can assemble this up to 24 hours ahead of time, put in a baking dish, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Just put it on the grill when you are ready to eat.
Leftovers will be fine in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days - they make an awesome grilled chicken salad!
You can freeze these before or after they've been cooked. Just put them in a freezer container with parchment or waxed paper between the layers.
📖 Variations
- You can use plain kosher salt in place of the seasoned salt.
- Make on a charcoal grill for that old fashioned grilled flavor. Or, use wood chips.
- Slice the grilled chicken up and serve it over a salad.
- If you have time you can marinate for 30 minutes in pineapple juice instead of the salting step.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Don't put the cooked chicken on the same platter that the raw chicken was on even if you've wiped it off. It needs to be washed in hot hot soapy water before being used again. I like to take it to the grill on a paper plate so I can just throw the plate away.
- Taking 30 minutes to brine the chicken in a combination of 3 cups of water and 3 tablespoons of salt will make it even more tender and juicy.
- Skinless chicken is best for this recipe. Chicken skin sometimes gets soggy under the bacon.
- Brush the grill with olive oil or spray with a non-flammable, non-stick spray before you put the meat on it to keep it from sticking.
- In my opinion thick cut bacon does not work well in this recipe.
- Be sure to take the toothpicks out before serving. You don't want anyone getting hurt.
- If you have a grill pan you could also use it for this bbq chicken recipe.
- If your grill has a cover be sure to cook with the cover down. There's less chance of the chicken breast drying out.
- Get a good flavored bacon - don't skimp. It will give much more flavor!
- I know y'all know this but pour the bbq sauce you're using to brush the raw chicken with in a separate container and then throw away any leftover sauce and put the brush aside. Use fresh bbq sauce and a clean brush for any extra "saucing" at the table. You don't want anyone to add bbq sauce that's been contaminated.
- Cook until the interior of the meat is 160F on an instant-read thermometer. Let chicken rest for 5 minutes before eating so it rises to 165F.
I think this is one of my favorite recipes for quick summer meals.
One thing I like to do is to brush the boneless chicken breasts with my favorite bbq sauce about every 2-3 minutes during the last few minutes of grilling. It just really coats it in a nice, sticky glaze that way.
Sometimes the glaze doesn't really cook into a sticky coating - I have no idea why. If that happens I use my handy dandy plumbers torch and just caramelize it that way!
Make sure to remove it from the grill and to the kitchen before using the torch, though. We don't want any explosions!
Our grill has a little container where you can add wood chips to add more campfire flavor! I like to use hickory or mesquite chips with this recipe.
👩🍳 FAQs
It depends on how thick it is but about 12 minutes total for boneless breast.
You can marinate it in buttermilk for 30 minutes before proceeding with your recipe or brine it in 3 cups of water with 3 tablespoons salt dissolved in it. Rinse and pat dry before continuing with the recipe.
425F is a good temperature to have the grill at before adding the chicken.
Yes! You'll need to plan on cooking it about 50% longer, though. So, instead of 20 minutes total time you might need 30 minutes, or instead of 10 minutes you might need 15, and so on.
📚 Related recipes
While I think this is the best bbq chicken breast ever there are plenty. more great chicken recipes here!
- You'll love these easy air fryer chicken thighs!
- This simple chicken recipe is quick to throw together.
- Copycat Popeye's blackened chicken is just as spicy and delicious as the original.
🍽️ Serve with...
Here are some more of our favorite chicken recipes!
This is what goes with bbq chicken breasts as far as my family is concerned! These are some of our favorite sides..
- Pea & Cheese Salad with Bacon is creamy and delicious. So easy to make - and you can make it ahead of time.
- These Whipped Sweet Potatoes are seasoned with a touch of smoky chipotle for great southwestern flavor.
- Dr Pepper Baked Beans are a classic summer recipe!
- Frito Salad is a potluck favorite! Crunchy corn chips, corn, bacon, cheese and a ton of fresh veggies make this extra yummy!
- Green beans & potatoes is an old fashioned favorite that's good any time of the year. You can also make green beans and ham in the crockpot!
- Layered cornbread salad is pretty so make it in a clear glass bowl! Cornbread, corn, bacon, tomatoes, cheese, and more are all layered with a homemade sour cream Ranch dressing. This feeds a crowd!
Enjoy this easy dinner with this simple white buttermilk Texas sheet cake or, maybe this Southern blackberry cobbler for dessert.
🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends
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You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
- Brush
- Grill
- Tongs
- Toothpicks
- Plastic wrap
- Baking dish (to hold the chicken after salting)
📞 The last word
This is a quick meal but if you have a little more time check out the grilled chicken with bourbon peaches!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
BBQ Chicken Breast Wrapped in Bacon
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 3 pounds chicken breast, or thighs. Boneless & skinless.
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
- 6 slices bacon
- ½ cup BBQ Sauce, homemade or your favorite brand.
Instructions
Grill Instructions
- Divide the chicken so you have 6 pieces, about ½ pound each. I usually butterfly it. Dry chicken with paper towels.
- Sprinkle the seasoned salt on both sides.
- Cover with plastic wrap, and set aside for 30 minutes if you have time.
- Wrap the bacon around the chicken breast and secure with toothpicks.
- Brush one side with bbq sauce and place on a hot grill (425°F), sauce side down.
- Grill for about 5 to 8minutes and then flip with tongs.
- Brush sauce on the top and grill until the internal temperature reaches 160°F, about 5 minutes more.
- Remove from the grill and set aside for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the internal temperature to rise to 165° without overcooking and lets the juices settle. You'll have perfectly cooked, tender, & juicy chicken every time!
Oven Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Follow the instructions for preparing the chicken but don't add bbq sauce.
- Place the chicken on a rack over a baking sheet if possible. If not then place the chicken in a baking pan that's been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
- Brush the top of the chicken generously with bbq sauce.
- Bake for 8 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over and brush with more bbq sauce.
- Bake 8 more minutes or until and insta-read thermometer registers 160°F.
- Remove from the oven and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Don't put the cooked chicken on the same platter that the raw chicken was on even if you've wiped it off. It needs to be washed in hot soapy water before being used again. I like to keep the raw chicken on a paper plate so I can just throw it away once the chicken goes on the grill.
- Taking 30 minutes to brine the chicken in a combination of 3 cups of water and 3 tablespoons of salt will make it even more tender and juicy.
- Brush the grill with oil or spray with a non-flammable, non-stick spray before you put the chicken on it to keep it from sticking.
- In my opinion thick cut bacon does not work well in this recipe.
- Be sure to take the toothpicks out before serving. You don't want anyone getting hurt.
- If your grill has a cover be sure to cook with the cover down. There's less chance of the chicken breast drying out.
- Get a good flavored bacon - don't skimp. It will give much more flavor!
- I know y'all know this but pour the bbq sauce you're using to brush the chicken with in a separate container and then throw away any leftover sauce and put the brush aside. Use fresh bbq sauce and a clean brush for any extra "saucing" at the table. You don't want anyone to add bbq sauce that's been contaminated with raw chicken
- Don't put the cooked chicken on the same platter that the raw chicken was on even if you've wiped it off. It needs to be washed in hot hot soapy water before being used again. I like to keep the raw chicken on a paper plate so I can just throw it away once the chicken goes on the grill.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published May 21, 2021. Last updated April 12, 2023 for better tips, extra instructions, and readability.
Ray Davies says
I use paper plates for almost all my cooking. You can use it as a cutting board, then toss. you can take stuff to the grill, and put it on, then toss. You can do almost anything where you have to clean a plate or cutting board during the cooking process and just toss the used dirty plate. No cross contamination and easy clean up,all you have to do is take out the garbage.
Marye says
great idea!