*This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. All opinions are entirely my own.
Nothing says TEXAS like a table full of side dishes, BBQ’d meat and your friends and neighbors gathered together for a meal and fun! This Bacon-Wrapped BBQ Smoked Chicken recipe is the perfect addition to my table in celebration of the upcoming TexFest!
When we made the decision to pack up our family and move to a whole new state, it didn’t take long before we decided on Texas as our new home state. When Jon and I were first married we traveled full time and our favorite state was always Texas!
Since moving down here, we have discovered that there is a huge sense of community and neighborliness that has just been completely wonderful for our family. We have enjoyed getting to know our neighbors and joining together in festivals, community events, and impromptu get-togethers.
I am so excited about TexFest! This is one of those events where Texas comes out BIG and the foodie in me goes crazy! It is no secret that I love food, and I am excited to have discovered that everything in Texas is bigger and better! The flavors in Texas BBQ are out-of-this-world bold and delicious.
Bacon Wrapped BBQ Smoked Chicken for the WIN!!!
While we wait for TexFest to arrive, we are celebrating the beautiful weather and wonderful community we have become a part of by gathering around a full table of delicious sides and the star of the show, two AMAZING chickens wrapped in Wright® Brand Bacon that were smoked low and slow.
I could totally “Bacon All the Things!” I love shopping at my local H-E-B and finding inspiration for my next BBQ & smoker adventure. It didn’t take long to be inspired to wrap my chickens with Wright Brand Bacon for TexFest when I saw the 40 oz package of Hickory Smoked bacon (also available in Applewood Smoked) on the shelf. Wright Brand Bacon is perfect for this recipe, as you absolutely must have thick sliced, high quality cuts of premium bacon, which provide a rich bacon flavor, to create the most amazing chicken! I also love using products made in Texas like Wright Brand Bacon!
When you weave bacon together in a basket weave you are able to create the most bacon coverage possible on this chicken. No need to wrap the bottom. I promise the bacon flavor will find its way all the way to the bottom of this chicken! I secured my bacon wrap on the chicken using toothpicks.
I have discovered a really easy, homemade BBQ rub recipe that is great for this bacon-wrapped chicken dish. I make it in large batches and keep it in an airtight container for all my BBQ needs! I get asked all the time for my rub recipe. It is so simple and good.
Create an easy Texas-inspired table setting
You can host your own TexFest gathering to celebrate neighborly friendship and amazing food! I created a simple Texas-inspired tablescape using red bandanas, mason jars, small blue flowers, a belt, & lasso rope.
Taking time to create a fun & inviting table setting does not have to be complicated. Look around your house for Texas inspired decor you already have or visit HEB to gather a few things to make your table look amazing and showcase the delicious spread of food everyone is about to dive into!
- 1 whole chicken
- Brine (1/2 cup salt, 1/2 brown sugar, 1 tbsp garlic powder, & 2 tsp black pepper dissolved in 1 cup water.)
- 1 package 40 oz Wright® Brand Bacon
- 1/4 cup BBQ Rub (recipe below)
- 2 cups Hickory Chips
- Rinse chicken and place in large bowl or pan.
- Pour cooled brine over chicken and add water until chicken is submerged in brine.
- Brine for 10-24 hours.
- 2 hours before cooking chicken, rinse off brine and pat dry.
- Coat chicken in BBQ Rub both inside and outside.
- Allow to marinate 2 hours.
- Heat smoker to 250˚F.
- Fill the smoker's water basin with water and hickory wood chips.
- Create a lattice weave out of bacon over the breast of the chicken covering the wings and legs.
- Use toothpicks to secure bacon on top of chicken.
- Place chicken in smoker with bacon weave on top.
- Smoke for 3-4 hours until internal temperature reaches 165˚.
- Remove from smoker and allow to rest before slicing and serving.
- 1/2 cup Dark Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup Seasoning Salt
- 1/4 cup Garlic powder
- 1/4 cup Onion powder
- 1/4 cup Paprika
- 1/3 cup Chili powder
- 1/4 cup Black Pepper
- 1/2 tsp Red Pepper
Happy TexFest!
Keikilani
Don’t forget to grab your coupon for Wright Brand Bacon at H-E-B and SAVE BIG!!!
(Coupon valid from March 1 – March 14, 2017 on 40 oz. Wright Brand Bacon)
This looks so good. You can never go wrong with bacon and I am going to make this recipe for our next cookout.
That BBQ Rub sounds delicious! While I don’t eat pork. I can still get behind the BBQ Smoked Chicken! And this looks super easy to make. Thanks for sharing!
You had me at bacon. Looks and sounds delicious. Perfect for the summer bbqs coming up.
You had me at bacon wrapped. This looks delicious!
Now this sounds like an awesome idea for a barbecue. The flavors must be so nice. We’ll have to remember this!
Isn’t everything better when wrapped in bacon? 🙂
These pics are amazing, I would never have thought of doing this, but it makes perfect sense and looks so easy! I think my kids would love this and I hope I would be able to not eat it all before serving it !
This recipe sounds absolutely delicious! I love BBQ so I will have to try this.
I make something very similar in the winter! I use boneless thighs since they don’t overcook easily and then I can make sure the bacon is nice and crispy in the oven!
It sounds sooooo amazing! I can’t wait to try it!
Oh that looks so good, messy but good! You can’t go wrong with bbq and bacon either!
This looks like a great dinner! My husband has a saying that everything is better with bacon, I know he would love to give this a try! We have done bacon wrapped steak but never chicken.
The flavor must be amazing. I can see that tasting really good. Looks interesting.
I don’t eat meat, but that dessert on your table looks DIVINE!
Oh my goodness this looks so freaking delicious! I can’t wait to give this a try at a fun Spring BBQ. That dessert also looks so freakin good.
Strawberry Shortcake Dessert recipe coming soon! 😉