Bacon Wrapped Roast Ranch Chicken
Few combinations are as tried and true as bacon + ranch + chicken. This recipe is merely my latest simple combination of those delicious ingredients. Roasting a whole chicken is an easy weeknight meal option, and one that should satisfy the pickiest of eaters. It’s easy to pick up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, but unless you pay premium price at Whole Foods or a similar establishment, you’ll be bringing home a chicken cooked in seed oils and seasoned with MSG. No thanks!
This chicken is cooked in three steps - and at three different temperatures - for a reason. The chicken should be par-cooked at a low temperature before adding the bacon so the bacon doesn’t burn. Then the final step is to get that bacon extra crispy at a high temperature, something easily achieved with an all-in-one air fryer oven. I love my Gourmia air fryer precisely for that reason: it bakes, fries, and dehydrates, among other functions. Too bad it doesn’t clean itself!
*Side note: I don’t get paid to endorse any products - not that I’d turn down the money - but everything I recommend is what I personally use. If you have recommendations, I’m always on the hunt for a better mouse trap!
If you have any questions about the recipe, feel free to e-mail me or shoot me a message on Instagram!
Ingredients
1 approximately 3 pound whole chicken, giblets removed
12 oz sugar-free bacon (I use Applegate)
Salt to taste
Equipment
Gourmia air fryer oven (my personal weapon of choice) OR
Conventional oven with baking sheet, parchment paper, and oven-safe cooling rack
Directions
Season the chicken with Pork King Good and salt as desired. If using a conventional oven, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the chicken on top of a cooling rack on top of that, ensuring air circulation on all sides of the chicken. If using the Gourmia air fryer, place the chicken on lower tray, removing the top tray. Bake at 275°F for 60 minutes.
Remove the par-cooked chicken and wrap it thoroughly in bacon, ensuring the wings are wrapped separately. Place back into oven and bake at 350°F for 60 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted into the center reaches 165°F.
Crisp the bacon by increasing the oven temperature to 400°F for 10-15 minutes. On the Gourmia, choose the air fry option to achieve this result. Remove and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes.
Allowing the chicken to cool on the rack before transferring it to a serving plate also ensures the bacon dries and becomes nice and crispy. Depending on the size of your chicken (some of those Costco cluckers look like they’ve been hitting the gym for sure), you may need to adjust the cooking time at the low temperature. Always check poultry with a thermometer for safety.
