If you’re looking for the ultimate sweet, savory, and slightly spicy appetizer, you’ve found it with these bacon wrapped chicken bites. Juicy chicken is wrapped in crispy bacon, coated in a brown-sugar-spice blend, and paired with mini waffles and hot-honey butter to create the ultimate breakfast or party treat.
These taty bites are perfect for breakfast, game day, or dinner. They’re easy to make and hard to stop eating!
If you love big, bold chicken flavors, then check out my Buffalo chicken nuggets, chicken enchiladas, and honey sriracha chicken.
Jump to:
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These bacon wrapped chicken bites are packed with flavor and texture in every bite.
- Sweet, smoky, and slightly spicy flavor
- Crispy bacon with juicy chicken
- Fun mini waffle pairing makes it unique
- Perfect for appetizers or meals
- Easy to make and great for sharing
Key Ingredients
The recipe card at the bottom of the post has all the ingredients and their exact amounts.
- Chicken Breast: The main protein and centerpiece of the dish, providing a savory base that pairs with the sweet and spicy elements.
- Bacon: Adds smoky, salty richness that enhances the chicken’s flavor and complements the sweetness.
- Brown Sugar: Creates a sweet glaze and helps caramelize the chicken, balancing the spice.
- Chili Powder & Smoked Paprika: Bring heat and smoky depth, giving the dish its sweet-and-spicy flavor profile.
- Waffles: Homemade waffles add a soft, slightly crisp texture that contrasts with the savory chicken.
- Hot Honey: Adds sweet heat and ties together the savory chicken and waffles with a flavorful drizzle.
- Butter (for Honey Butter): Creates a rich, creamy spread that enhances both the waffles and overall flavor.
Variations
- Make it Sweeter: Use maple syrup instead of hot honey for a sweeter twist.
- Extra Spicy: Add cayenne pepper for extra heat.
- Make It with Pancakes: Use pancake batter instead of waffles.
- Make It Lighter: Try turkey bacon for a lighter option.
- Skip the Waffles: Serve the bacon wrapped chicken on toothpicks as a stand-alone appetizer.
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites and Waffles
Step 1: Mix the seasonings in a small bowl and set aside. Then, cut the chicken into 2-inch chunks.
Step 2: Cut the bacon into ½-inch strips and wrap them around the chicken pieces, securing with a toothpick. Then, dredge the chicken in the seasoning mixture and place on a prepared baking sheet.
Step 3: Bake until cooked through and the bacon is crispy.
Step 4: Whip the butter until smooth. Then, mix in the remaining honey butter ingredients and set aside.
Step 5: Mix the waffle batter until just combined. Then, make mini waffles according to your waffle maker’s instructions.
Step 6: Place mini waffles on a plate and top them with honey butter. Then, add chicken pieces, more butter, and a waffle on top. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Use Thick-Cut Bacon: Use thick-cut bacon for extra crispiness.
- Use a Rack: For the crispiest bacon, place a wire rack over a baking sheet to improve airflow while baking.
- Don’t Overmix: Don’t overmix the waffle batter. It should be slightly lumpy, and that’s okay!
- Toothpicks Make It Easier: Secure bacon tightly with toothpicks.
- Uniform Chunks: Cut the chicken into uniform chunks for even cooking.
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites FAQs
Yes! You can prep and wrap the chicken in bacon ahead of time, store it in the refrigerator, and bake it when ready to serve.
Absolutely. Air fry at 375°F for about 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the bacon is crispy and the chicken is cooked through.
Not at all. They’re delicious on their own as an appetizer, but the waffles add a fun sweet-and-savory twist.
Use thick-cut bacon, avoid overcrowding the pan, and bake until fully crisp. Reheat in the oven instead of the microwave.
Yes, turkey bacon can be used for a lighter option, though it may not get as crispy.
Hot honey is honey infused with chili peppers for a sweet-spicy flavor. You can substitute regular honey or add a pinch of red pepper flakes to mimic the heat.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Yes, you can freeze them after cooking. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven.
Reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through to keep the bacon crispy.
Tasty Pairings for Chicken and Waffle Bites
If you try this recipe and love it, please be sure to leave a 5 ★★★★★ rating below and leave a comment! You can also pin it to your favorite Pinterest boards and save it for later.
Also, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Remember to “like” or “follow” us on all social media.
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites and Waffles with Honey Butter
Ingredients
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites
- 2 chicken breast
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ pound bacon
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Waffle Mix
- 2 cups pancake and waffle mix
- 1 cup cold water
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Honey Butter
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- ⅓ cup hot honey
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°.
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites
- In a small bowl mix together brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, and pepper. Set aside.
- Cut chicken in half lengthwise and cut into 2-inch sized chunks.
- Cut bacon into 1⁄3 strips.
- Wrap each strip of bacon around each piece of chicken tightly. Secure with toothpicks.
- Dredge each piece of bacon covered chicken in brown sugar mixture and set on a cookie sheet lined with foil.
- Bake at 400 for 15 minutes.
Honey Butter
- In a medium sized bowl whip the butter until smooth and airy.
- Add powdered sugar and salt, and whip or whisk until smooth.
- Next add the honey, and mix until just combined.
Waffle Mix
- Make waffle batter by adding waffle mix, egg, heavy cream, cold water, vanilla and melted butter to a medium sized bowl. Do not overmix, it will be slightly lumpy.
- Make mini waffles according to your waffle maker instructions.
- To assemble, place a waffle on a plate, add a little honey butter, followed by a piece of chicken, more honey butter, and top with another waffle. Drizzle with syrup, if desired.
Notes
- Use Thick-Cut Bacon: Use thick-cut bacon for extra crispiness.
- Use a Rack: For the crispiest bacon, place a wire rack over a baking sheet to improve airflow while baking.
- Don’t Overmix: Don’t overmix the waffle batter. It should be slightly lumpy, and that’s okay!
- Toothpicks Make It Easier: Secure bacon tightly with toothpicks.
- Uniform Chunks: Cut the chicken into uniform chunks for even cooking.
Nutrition
Crispy bacon with juicy chicken and that honey butter is so good. I’ll definitely make these again!
These are the BEST weekend breakfast treats. The honey butter is just soo good and ties everything together perfectly. I had to stop myself from eating them all!
The honey butter was the perfect finishing touch on these. The chicken stayed juicy inside the crisp bacon, and it was such a fun, savory-sweet bite that everyone at the table enjoyed.
Is it breakfast? Is it dinner? Is it an appetizer? It’s all of those, and I love it.
Now, this is what I call chicken and waffles! These are so yummy.
These chicken bites recipe is out of this world! My family can’t get enough of these bad boys! Thank you!