Sprinkle half of the dry rub onto the chicken tenders. Coat all over using your hand to press the rub onto the meat so it will adhere.
Wrap each chicken tender with one strip of bacon, using a small metal skewer or toothpick to help hold the bacon in place.
Sprinkle the bacon-wrapped tenders with the remaining half of the dry rub on all sides.
Fire Up The Grill!
Light a charcoal chimney full of Kingsford Charcoal.
When the coals are ready and gray with ash, pour out the coal into the grill and set up the coals for a two-zone fire for indirect heat. Preheat the grill to about 350 degrees F.
Grill The Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Tenders
Grill the chicken over direct heat until bacon is crisp and turns golden brown with slight char, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Flip the chicken and brown the other side for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. – Use the lid to control flareups from the bacon fat.
When both sides of the bacon are brown and crisp, move the chicken tenders over to the cooler (indirect) side of the grill. Close the lid and allow the chicken to cook for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees F. – Add charcoal and adjust the vents of the grill to maintain temperature.
After 10 minutes, check the temperature of the chicken with an instant-read thermometer. The thickest part of the chicken should read no less than 165 degrees F.
Sauce Rest and Enjoy!
Baste the chicken tenders with warmed barbecue sauce to help caramelize the sauce. It’s important to pay close attention not to let the bacon get too charred and black.
Remove from the grill and allow them to rest for 5 minutes before enjoying!
Notes
Save money: Buying whole boneless-skinless chicken breasts and cutting them into strips is cheaper and gives you more control over how many chicken tenders you end up with.Skewers: Small metal skewers work best for securing the bacon around the chicken tenders. If you don’t have metal skewers, you can use toothpicks or wooden skewers. Just keep in mind they burn quickly. Soak the toothpicks in water for about 20 minutes before using them.For best results: prepare the chicken tenders then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour or overnight. Not to mention prepping the chicken tenders ahead is a real time saver!BBQ Sauce: We encourage you to warm the barbecue sauce in a small saucepan on the grill before brushing it onto the bacon-wrapped chicken tenders. Warming the sauce will help carmelize it faster which in turn will keep the chicken from overcooking.
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