Learn how to make Bacon Wrapped Chicken Wings coated in a homemade Maple BBQ Sauce! They're baked until tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. These wings are great for a party or as a main course!
If you didn't think chicken wings could get any better, think again!
These bacon-wrapped chicken wings are just what you need to change up your chicken wing routine and deliver a crispy chicken wing that is sweet, smoky, and perfect for any meal or party.
These chicken wings are not only wrapped in bacon, but they are also coated in a homemade maple bbq sauce. The sauce is easy to make and only requires a few ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. The chicken wings are baked in the oven until they are tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.
Serve these wings as a game day appetizer or make them the main course along with your favorite side dishes! No matter how you enjoy them, they are sure to be a hit with your family and friends!
Chicken wings are classic party food, and they're even better when wrapped in bacon!
Serve them up with a side of KFC Macaroni Salad or Greek Pasta Salad!
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Why Make This Recipe
- The bacon gives the chicken wings a crispy exterior, while the maple bbq sauce adds a sweet and smoky flavor.
- These bacon wrapped chicken wings are baked in the oven, so they are easy to make and don't require any frying.
- Great as an appetizer or as an entree course to any meal!
- The texture is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside with rich maple bacon flavor.
Ingredients
- Chicken Wings - Whether you use fresh or frozen, chicken wings are great party food, snack, or entree and are small enough to be wrapped in bacon.
- Bacon - You can use any type of bacon for this recipe, but I prefer to use thick-cut bacon so that it doesn't shrink too much when cooked.
- Cooking Oil - Used to grease the wings to help get them nice and crispy.
For the Maple Barbecue Sauce
- Maple Syrup & Brown Sugar - Adds a rich sweetness to the sauce and gives the sauce a thick texture.
- Ketchup - Adds acidity from the tomato and a complimentary natural sweetness.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - Gives the sauce a tangy kick that pairs well in any BBQ sauce.
- Dried Spices - A mix of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoke paprika gives these chicken wings a great flavor that is savory and smoky.
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full quantities.
Instructions
Wondering how to make this Bacon Wrapped Chicken Wings recipe? It's easy!
Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.
Prepare for baking: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a baking dish with oil. Set aside.
Prepare the chicken wings: Wash the chicken wings, dry them with a paper towel, and cut them into three parts at the joints using a sharp knife. You do not need to use the tip of the chicken wing. Skip this step if you're using pre-cut chicken wings.
Wrap in bacon: Cut bacon strips into thirds. Wrap a piece of a wing in each part and place them into the prepared baking dish, bacon seam side down.
Assemble the BBQ sauce: Add all the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl and whisk to combine fully.
Sauce and bake: Pour the sauce over the wings, ensuring each chicken wing is covered. Place the dish into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through. Carefully remove the wings with tongs and serve hot. Enjoy!
Air Fryer Instructions: Make these chicken wings in the air fryer for an even crispier version! Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Place the chicken wings in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd, and cook for 15 minutes. Remove the basket, carefully turn each chicken wing over, and cook for an additional five to seven minutes or until bacon is crispy.
Cook's Tips
You can use any type of chicken wings for this recipe, including fresh or frozen. If you're using frozen chicken wings, thaw them completely before cooking.
For extra crispy chicken wings, double-wrap the bacon around each chicken wing or cook it separately before wrapping it around the chicken.
If you're not a fan of maple syrup, you can substitute honey in the BBQ sauce.
You can omit the salt in the BBQ sauce if your bacon is salted.
The chicken is cooked through when the internal temperature of the meat reaches 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
Chicken safety: Wash hands, surfaces, and utensils thoroughly after handling raw chicken. Before serving, ensure the chicken is piping hot and thoroughly cooked, juices run clear and no pink color remains.
Variations
- For a spicier version, add cayenne pepper to the Maple BBQ sauce or serve the wings with hot sauce on the side.
- Add more maple syrup or brown sugar to taste if you want a sweeter sauce.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side such as ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, or a honey mustard sauce. We love serving them with Wingstop Ranch or Chipotle Southwest Sauce (Subway Copycat), or Homemade Donair Sauce.
- Use different types of bacon to change the flavor including smoked bacon, turkey bacon, or pork belly.
- Air Fryer Instructions: Make these chicken wings in the air fryer for an even crispier version! Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Place the chicken wings in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd, and cook for 15 minutes. Remove the basket, carefully turn each chicken wing over, and cook for an additional five to seven minutes or until bacon is crispy.
Storage & Freezing
Storing: Cooked and cooled chicken wings can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer for up to three months. I do not recommend freezing chicken wings with the sauce as it will change the sauce's texture and can dry out when reheated.
Reheating: Preheat your oven to 375°F and place chicken wings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for seven to ten minutes or until heated through.
FAQs
The secret to crispy chicken wings is two-fold. First, you must ensure the chicken wings are dry before cooking. Any moisture on the surface of the chicken will make it harder to get a crisp skin. Second, you need to cook them at a high temperature so that the fat renders out and the skin gets crisp. In this recipe, the bacon will help add natural cooking fat to help them get crispy.
It takes about 20-25 minutes for chicken wings to cook at 375F. However, this will vary depending on the size of your chicken wings. I recommend using a meat thermometer to check for doneness and cooking until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 165°F.
No, you don't need to use BBQ sauce if you don't want to. However, it does help to add flavor and moisture to the chicken wings. If you don't want to use BBQ sauce, you can brush the chicken wings with melted butter or oil before baking.
More chicken wing recipes
We hope that you love this tasty bacon-wrapped chicken wings recipe! Be sure to also check out these other chicken wing recipes too:
- Soy Garlic Chicken Wings
- Honey Sriracha Wings
- Cajun Chicken Wings (Wingstop Copycat)
- Louisiana Rub Chicken Wings (Wingstop copycat)
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📖 Recipe
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Wings
Equipment
- Bowl
- Baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds chicken wings
- ½ pound bacon
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
For the Maple Barbecue Sauce
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoons salt
- ¼ teaspoons pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a baking dish with oil.
- Wash the chicken wings, dry with paper towel, and cut into three parts at the joints (unless they are smaller pre-cut wings). You do not need to use the tip of the chicken wing.
- Cut bacon strips (smoked or unsmoked) into thirds.
- Wrap a piece of a wing in each part and place them into the baking dish, bacon seam side down.
For the maple barbecue sauce
- Mix all the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl.
- Pour the sauce over the wings, making sure each chicken wing is covered.
Oven Baked
- Place the dish into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through.
Air Fryer
- Make these chicken wings in the air fryer for an even crispier version! Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Place the chicken wings in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd, and cook for 15 minutes. Remove the basket, carefully turn each chicken wing over, and cook for an additional five to seven minutes or until bacon is crispy.
Notes
- You can use any type of chicken wings for this recipe, including fresh or frozen. If you're using frozen chicken wings, thaw them completely before cooking.
- For extra crispy chicken wings, double-wrap the bacon around each chicken wing or cook it separately before wrapping it around the chicken.
- If you're not a fan of maple syrup, you can substitute honey in the BBQ sauce.
- You can omit the salt in the BBQ sauce if your bacon is salted.
- The chicken is cooked through when the internal temperature of the meat reaches 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
- For a spicier version, add cayenne pepper to the Maple BBQ sauce or serve the wings with hot sauce on the side.
- Add more maple syrup or brown sugar to taste if you want a sweeter sauce.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce on the side such as ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, or a honey mustard sauce. We love serving them with Wingstop Ranch or Chipotle Southwest Sauce (Subway Copycat), or Homemade Donair Sauce.
- Use different types of bacon to change the flavor including smoked bacon, turkey bacon, or pork belly.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Gina Abernathy says
You just took chicken wings to a whole new level. My son is a chicken wing nut, and he gave this recipe 2 thumbs up! The maple sauce is amazing!
Amanda says
I had never tried chicken wings this way so we were excited for it! Super easy and the whole family loved them! Wings, bacon and bbq sauce - all the best things togetrher! Thanks for sharing.
Kim says
What a great idea! I made these for a football draft party and they were a huge hit!
Ama says
These wings were absolute heaven. Loved the maple glaze and I can never resist the combination of bacon and chicken.