Description
Chicken Bacon Bird Dogs combine tender, thinly sliced chicken breasts with crispy smoky bacon, served in soft buns for a quick, savory meal perfect for any time of day. This recipe is fast, easy, kid-friendly, and customizable with fresh vegetables, cheese, and your choice of condiments, delivering satisfying flavor in under 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Protein
- Chicken breasts: 2 boneless, skinless, thinly sliced
- Bacon strips: 6-8 strips, cooked crispy
Bread & Cheese
- Hot dog buns or slider rolls: 4-6, soft and sturdy
- Cheese slices (optional): 4-6 slices, cheddar or mozzarella
Condiments & Fresh Produce
- Mustard or mayo: 2 tablespoons, to taste
- Fresh lettuce: 4-6 leaves, washed and crisp
- Tomato: 1 medium, sliced
Seasonings
- Salt: 1 teaspoon, divided
- Black pepper: 1/2 teaspoon, divided
- Garlic powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Oil
- Cooking oil: 1 tablespoon (for chicken)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Slice the chicken breasts into thin strips. Season evenly with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook bacon strips in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, then drain on paper towels. Preheat a skillet or grill pan for cooking the chicken.
- Cook the Chicken: Add a splash of cooking oil to the hot skillet. Cook the chicken strips for about 3–4 minutes per side until they are golden brown and fully cooked through, ensuring juicy, tender pieces with a nice sear.
- Warm the Buns: While the chicken cooks, lightly toast the hot dog buns or slider rolls until warm with a slight crunch, adding texture to the bird dogs.
- Assemble Your Bird Dogs: Place cooked chicken strips inside each warmed bun. Top with crispy bacon strips, add cheese slices if using, then fresh lettuce leaves and tomato slices. Spread mustard or mayo inside the bun for extra tang or creaminess.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the Chicken Bacon Bird Dogs immediately while warm. Pair with your favorite dipping sauce like honey mustard, ranch, or barbecue, or a side dish of chips or salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- Use thin slices of chicken to ensure quick cooking and tender texture.
- Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking chicken to allow proper searing without steaming.
- Let cooked chicken rest a few minutes off the heat to lock in juices.
- For extra crispy bacon, bake bacon strips in the oven on a rack.
- Toast buns lightly to enhance aroma and maintain softness without toughness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Pan-frying, Baking (for bacon if preferred)
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bird dog
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 75mg