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These Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders are Sticky & Juicy with the BEST balance of sweet & smokey, plus an EASY swap makes these keto approved! A simple minimal ingredient recipe that is ready in 30 minutes. Come see why you should be making these super sticky BBQ chicken tenders! Be sure to read through the post for helpful tips and ideas, you won't find a story about my gramma here. Enjoy!

Sticky BBQ Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders

Seasoned tender chicken strips with smokey bacon are cooked to crisp perfection then brushed with barbecue sauce. The chicken is then put back in the oven to reach maximum stickiness. We use a variation of cooking time that is easy, but helps ensure the bacon cooks we want it to. These are seriously lick your fingers clean chicken tenders making them a delicious side dish, appetizer or snack.

What Barbecue Sauce To Use For These Chicken Tenders

For this recipe I used my husband's favorite sweet and spicy sauce from Sweet Baby Ray's with a few of my own additions. I tend to doctor up any store bought sauces because it's easy and takes them to a whole different level. While you can choose any barbecue sauce you want, a thicker more rich less vinegar style will work best to make these chicken tenders sticky. Normally I make more additions to the BBQ sauce, but for this recipe I seasoned the chicken so only added brown sugar to the sauce.

How To Make These Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders Keto Friendly

Making these chicken tenders keto friendly is very easy. Because every ingredient is already naturally keto approved it comes down to the sauce. If you follow the keto diet you are probably already familiar with what your choices are. GH Hughes tends to come up most often and it is our sugar free BBQ sauce of choice. Simply swap our our sauce listed in the recipe card for your favorite and use brown sweetener instead of sugar. I have also included a few keto side dishes below for making these chicken tenders a full meal.

Keto Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders Are Only 1 CARB EACH!

Making Our Sticky BBQ Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders

The full recipe card is below for viewing, printing and sharing

Ingredients

• 16oz Boneless skinless chicken tenderloins, trimmed and pat dry
• 10-12 slices of bacon, one for each tenderloin
• ⅓ cup BBQ sauce (Sugar free for Keto or our homemade recipe)
• 2tbsp Brown Sugar (Sweetener for Keto)
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon thyme
• Salt & Pepper optional, I skipped them

Directions for Getting the BBQ Chicken Sticky

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Grease a sheet pan and place it close by.
3. Season the chicken with garlic powder and thyme, toss to coat evenly.
4. Wrap each chicken tender in a slice of bacon.
5. Place on sheet pan and roast for 10 minutes.
6. Increase heat to 425 degrees and roast for 10 minutes more.
7. Mix the brown sugar into the BBQ sauce. Brush on chicken. Return to oven.
8. Roast 5 minutes. Serve with your favorite dip (see suggestions just below) or eat by themselves. They taste great cold too!

After the first 10 minutes of roasting.

After the second 10 minutes of roasting, brush on the BBQ sauce then return to the oven for another 5 minutes.

Dipping Sauce Ideas for Sticky BBQ Chicken Tenders

• Try dipping these in our delicious easy to make Lemon Garlic Aoli , a semi-home version that starts with mayo, no raw egg and whisking up egg.
• Amp up the spice by using this Spicy Korean Dipping Sauce, this is a hot one folks!
• My favorite ideas include Honey Mustard, Ranch AND something you probably would never guess- Cole Slaw Dressing. There I said it. No shame. Think about it, they put actual cole slaw on BBQ pork. So why not? Same flavor profiles! It is delicious.

Keto Sides for Our Chicken Tenders

If you're eating low in carbs and looking to make these yummy chicken tenders a meal try these side dish recipes

• A creamy and cheesy baked cauliflower comfort food dish, Loaded Au Gratin
• Crisp and buttery everything bagel seasoned Brussels sprouts, air fryer or oven method.
• Pair it up like down south, add cornbread to your chicken tenders, this Broccoli Cheddar style will compliment the BBQ and bacon perfectly.

Meal Prep or Plan These Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders

The best thing about this recipe is that the food fits so many different things- a snack, a lunch, a dinner. You get it. The versatility makes our sticky barbecue chicken perfect for meal prepping or planning. The chicken reheats well and tastes good cold. Use them on a salad, in a wrap on the side of mac and cheese or veggies. The possibilities are endless. Simply pack in your favorite meal prep container and go.

Reheating Our Chicken Tenders

The process will depend on your intended use. If you would like to re-crisp them the oven is where you go. Preheat to 400, cook about 10 minutes. I do want to warn that this could dry them out. Brush chicken tenders with more barbecue sauce after. Other ways to reheat:

• Microwave for 1 minute at a time.
• Air Fryer for 5 minutes.
• Don't. The chicken tenders are amazing cold!

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